HC Deb 13 June 1989 vol 154 cc697-8
20. Mr. Brandon-Bravo

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence his Department has as to whether the Soviets are dismantling their most modern armoured fighting vehicles.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

There is as yet no evidence that the Soviets are dismantling their most modern armoured fighting vehicles.

Mr. Brandon-Bravo

Does my hon. Friend agree that we should be more concerned with practice than with promise? We have had many promises in the last few years. What steps can we take to ensure that they are put into practice? On what forms of inspection will we insist?

Mr. Hamilton

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The whole issue of verification will be an extremely important component of any agreement that is reached on conventional or nuclear reductions. That is an important element of the talks that are now going on.