HC Deb 01 May 1967 vol 746 cc94-5

Mr. Powell (by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any statement to make on an agreement reached regarding British forces on the Continent.

The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Denis Healey)

No, Sir. The final round of tripartite talks was held in London on Thursday and Friday of last week and the principals have transmitted their proposals to their Governments.

A statement will be made to the House at the earliest opportunity and I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to await it.

Mr. Powell

Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that any reduction of forces on the Continent will be decided upon, if at all, only in agreement with the whole of our allies in N.A.T.O. and not merely in the framework of the tripartite discussions?

Mr. Healey

Yes, Sir. We have repeatedly made it clear that any reduction on which we decide will be carried out after going through the same procedures as those which the Conservative Party went through when it reduced its commitments on the Continent by 25,000.

Mr. Michael Foot

Is it not the case that Her Majesty's Government have already made it clear in statements made to the House, for example, on 20th July last year, that there were certain financial consequences of these discussions on which Her Majesty's Government must insist? Will he confirm that Her Majesty's Government are still insisting precisely upon those consequences?

Mr. Healey

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the statement which will be made later in the week.

Mr. Sandys

Following on what he said, will the right hon. Gentleman assure us that as part of the procedure which he will go through he will ensure that the views of the Supreme Allied Commander will be presented to the Committee of Ministers of W.E.U. in accordance with the Treaty?

Mr. Healey

Yes, Sir, of course. Perhaps as a titbit to the right hon. Gentleman, which I am sure he will be delighted to hear, may I say that there is a general movement of opinion inside the alliance towards the views which I have expressed in the House on a number of occasions regarding the conditions which should govern N.A.T.O. strategy.

Mr. Frank Allaun

Does my right hon. Friend remember that the Government said that they would require the covering of these costs in full? Secondly, if the figure of 6,000, or 11 per cent. of our troops there, is the figure in mind, is he aware that many of us feel that it is not good enough?

Mr. Healey

I think that my memory is good as that of my hon. Friend. On the second part of his question, I have no doubt about the feelings of many of my hon. colleagues.

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