§ 12. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the international discussions resumed in Vienna on 17th January on force reductions and on initiatives Her Majesty's Government are taking towards that end.
§ Mr. AmeryThe parties concerned in the negotiations are now engaged in exploring the ideas and proposals put forward during the opening session. On all aspects of these negotiations Her Majesty's Government have worked in concert with their allies.
§ Mr. AllaunDoes the Minister think it helpful, or unhelpful, to the success of 429 these vital discussions that Britain should be increasing by 8 per cent. its arms spending over the next four years, according to the recent Government survey of expenditure?
§ Mr. AmeryIf the hon. Gentleman's question is judged in the context of the very great increase in Warsaw Pact strength in recent years, I am bound to say that I do not think that the minor steps we are taking to strengthen what is already too weak a defensive position are open to criticism.
§ Major-General Jack d'Avigdor-GoldsmidWill my right hon. Friend please confirm that Her Majesty's Government have not the slightest intention of reducing by one man the British content of our NATO forces?
§ Mr. AmeryIt would be wrong of me to go into the detail of the negotiation, but I can say that in the first stage we envisage reductions only of Soviet and American troops. It would be in the second stage that we would begin to consider European troops from Eastern and Western Europe.
§ Mr. MaclennanDid the Minister engage in discussion with his European NATO allies about the implications for Europe's contribution both to her defence and to these international negotiations prior to announcing the cuts in public expenditure on defence? If not, why not?
§ Mr. AmeryAs the hon. Member will know, we keep in extremely close touch with our NATO allies on all aspects of our contribution to the defence of Europe, and there is no exception in this case.