HC Deb 07 March 1989 vol 148 cc747-8
9. Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to meet General Scowcroft, United States national security adviser, to discuss defence matters.

Mr. Younger

I hope to meet General Scowcroft later in the year to discuss a wide range of matters of mutual interest.

Mr. Smith

When the Secretary of State meets General Scowcroft will one of the issues discussed be the seriousness of the West German Government's decision to postpone any decision on the modernisation of Lance until after their general election in two years' time? In such discussions, will the Secretary of State be taking the view of the Americans, who are forcing the pace on this issue, or that of the West Germans, on whose heads those missiles would fall if they ever had the misfortune to be fired?

Mr. Younger

I do not think that the West German Government have taken any such decision. There is, indeed, full agreement within the coalition of the West German Government that there should be no third zero, that there will need to be modernisation some time and that Lance will be out of date by about 1995. It is up to each Government to decide how they will react to the proposals which will eventually come before NATO. I cannot, of course, answer in advance for what the view of the West German Government may be.

Mr. Brazier

Will my right hon. Friend confirm to General Scowcroft that this Government still regard America as a reliable and faithful ally, unlike many Opposition Members?

Mr. Younger

Of course, it is an essential part of NATO's success that the United States and, indeed, Canada are fully integrated as part of the Western Alliance. That is an important part of the security which we all enjoy.

Mr. Sean Hughes

If General Scowcroft asks whether this Government take seriously the threat of a Warsaw pact short-range missile attack on NATO fixed assets in Germany, will the Secretary of State answer yes or no?

Mr. Younger

I shall reply to the general to any of those questions that he knows, and I know, that we are both members of the same Alliance with exactly the same views on the strategy of that Alliance. There is no difference between us. That is the answer to all the questions that hon. Gentlemen have asked.