§ Q5. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Prime Minister if he will define the precise areas of responsibility of the Foreign Office and the Treasury, respectively, for Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding the foreign exchange costs of British troops in Germany.
§ Mr. George BrownI have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for the balance of payments and I am, of course, responsible for foreign relations. The problem of the foreign exchange costs of British troops in Germany attracts the responsibility of us both and we cooperate closely in working out and in implementing the policy of Her Majesty's Government. Which Minister takes the lead from time to time depends on circumstances.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneIn that case, can the right hon. Gentleman explain why he went back on his clear undertaking to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) in December that there could be no connection between the offset costs of British troops in Germany and the offset costs of American troops in this country? Has not this created a dangerous precedent for the future?
§ Mr. BrownI do not think that we have created a dangerous precedent. All the precedents that we create are very good ones. On the question raised by the hon. Gentleman, I believe that when we announced the outcome of the negotiations the House generally recognised that we had made a very good bargain, and a very much better one than had been made before about covering the costs of our troops in Germany.