§ 6. Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation information budget for 1983–84 is in real terms compared with those of 1978–79, 1973–74 and 1968–69, respectively; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceThe North Atlantic Treaty Organisation information budget is assessed in calendar years. The sum allocated in Belgian francs was as follows: 1969, 46,940 million; 1974, 58,000 million; 1979, 77,200 million; and 1984, 128,000 million. Over the whole period since 1969 this represents a slight decline in real terms, compared to the Belgian cost of living index. The increase in the budget since 1979, however, has been substantially greater than 716 the rise in the cost of living index. This increase will help to maintain the work of the NATO information service, which we strongly support.
§ Mr. GreenwayI congratulate my hon. Friend on the improvement since 1979, but must we not do still better in view of the tremendous effort of Russia and her satellites against NATO's peaceful aims? Would it not be worth sacrificing a cruise missile, a tank or an aircraft or two to obtain the funds with which to improve NATO information services?
§ Mr. LuceI know of my hon. Friend's strong interest in this matter in his capacity as chairman of the Atlantic Education Committee. He plays an active, constructive and helpful role on that score. This is the 35th anniversary of the foundation of NATO. It is an important time to remind people, especially the young, of NATO's objective. NATO is a defensive organisation designed to defend the free world against aggression. It is important that adequate sums of money are made available to explain the purposes of NATO to the British community.