§ 40. Mr. Robert Howarthasked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the increase in the last five years in Russian naval activity in waters close to the British Isles, what measures are proposed to meet the situation.
§ Mr. HealeyThese activities are kept under surveillance by the R.N. and the R.A.F.
§ Mr. HowarthIs my right hon. Friend satisfied that there are sufficient home forces available to deal with what I understand is an increase in naval activity by the Russian Navy in waters close to the British Isles?
§ Mr. HealeyYes, Sir. We do, of course, adjust our deployment to meet any need which may arise in this regard.
§ Mr. BrooksWill my right hon. Friend say how far these off-shore naval dispositions invalidate the early warning system of which Fylingdales was designed to be a part?
§ Mr. HealeyNone of them does at the moment.
§ Rear-Admiral Morgan GilesDo the adjustments in the deployment of our forces to which the Secretary of State referred also apply to overseas bases outside the Atlantic waters when the need arises there?
§ Mr. HealeyI do not think that the Royal Navy can make itself responsible for this type of surveillance in all other parts of the world, but we are particularly sensitive to Soviet Navy activities in waters adjacent to the United Kingdom.