HC Deb 18 January 1967 vol 739 cc422-3
30. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reduce British forces in West Germany in view of that Government's repeated refusal to meet support costs which place an unacceptable burden on the British people.

Mr. Healey

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 12th December last. [Vol. 738, c. 44–51.]

Mrs. Short

Is my right hon. Friend aware that on this side of the House and in the country generally we are tired of the continued refusal of the Government to carry out the pledge that he has made to reduce our forces if the German Government did not pay this cost? Is he further aware that while the West German Government plead poverty and say that they cannot afford to carry out their obligations in this respect, they have recently reduced the Bank Rate in West Germany, which is something that we are apparently unable to do? Will my right hon. Friend now look at this matter again and give a firm assurance to the House that the undertaking given by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be carried out?

Mr. Healey

I can certainly give an undertaking that statements which have been made in the House by myself and other Ministers involving undertakings will be carried out.

Mrs. Short

When? That is what we want to know.

Mr. Shinwell

Is my right hon. Friend aware that we have been given that type of answer for the last fifteen years and that it is about time we had a more satisfactory answer? Is he also aware that there is a very strong suspicion, I believe in all parts of the House, that there is wasteful expenditure in Germany in connection with our military forces there? Will he consider inviting a few Members of the House who are intensely interested in this subject to conduct an independent inquiry into what is going on in Germany with a view to stopping this wasteful expenditure?

Mr. Healey

My right hon. Friend will be aware that Members of Parliament, both officially and unofficially, frequently visit Germany and investigate what our forces are doing. I also remind him that the Ministry of Defence has in recent years organised an inquiry, carried out by an independent firm of management consultants, to ensure that there is not waste of the type to which my right hon. Friend refers. If, however, he has any specific cases to raise, I will, of course, investigate them.