HC Deb 08 April 1970 vol 799 cc538-9
29. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, following the official proposals of the United States Secretary of State on 17th March regarding United States troop withdrawals from Europe in 1971, he will make a statement about the size of future British force commitment in Germany.

Mr. Healey

The United States Secretary of State has made no such proposals.

Mr. Allaun

But did not the Secretary of State say that the United States would give serious consideration to reduction of its forces in Europe in 1971? May I ask my right hon. Friend for an undertaking that at least there will be no increase in British forces in Germany?

Mr. Healey

No, I will not give that undertaking. I must point out to my hon. Friend and some of his sympathisers that it is no good on the one hand complaining about N.A.T.O.'s reliance on nuclear strategy and on the other hand insisting that we should reduce our conventional contribution to the alliance.

Mr. Henig

Will not the Secretary of State also point out to our mutual hon. Friend that if, hypothetically, the United States were to withdraw part of her forces from Western Europe, and if Britain were to follow the policy he is advocating of withdrawing part of the Army of the Rhine, the logical follow-up would be a much larger German conventional army, which would become the largest army in Western Europe?

Mr. Healey

This is certainly a factor but, if I might try to lower the temperature in which these questions are being asked, I am sure the whole House would agree that if there are to be reductions in the forces of N.A.T.O. in Europe, they should take place as part of a process of mutual force reduction which guarantees the same security for both sides as they enjoy today. I am sure that it would be much better to devote our attention and concern to persuading the Warsaw Powers to participate in negotiations for this type of mutual force reduction.