§ 50. Mr. Shinwellasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British officers are seconded to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation headquarters; what is the number representing other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries; and what is the annual cost to the United Kingdom and other countries, respectively.
§ Mr. ReynoldsI can only answer for the United Kingdom contribution. The number of British officers seconded to the N.A.T.O. Headquarters is 520 at an annual cost of £2,365,000.
§ Mr. ShinwellWhen will we put a stop to this expensive and unnecessary luxury? Why should the headquarters department have such a conglomeration of air marshals, admirals and generals who have nothing to do? What are they planning for, anyway? Why do we not put a stop to this nonsense?
§ Mr. ReynoldsI do not think that it has changed a lot in the last 16 years, but we said in the White Paper that the foundation of our security, now as always, lies in the maintenance of peace in Europe, and we must make our full contribution towards this.
§ Mr. PowellHas the hon. Gentleman any idea whether the proportion which our contribution bears to our total contingent is higher or lower than that of other countries? Will he look into the matter?
§ Mr. ReynoldsI will certainly look into the matter.