Troop Numbers

HC Deb 24 October 1989 vol 158 cc655-6

5. Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on the British Army of the proposals tabled in Vienna for ceilings on troop numbers.

Mr. Tom King

The current NATO proposals on manpower are limited to forces stationed by the United States and the Soviet Union in Europe.

Mr. McCartney

I should have thought that the Secretary of State would be a little more enthusiastic about initiatives being taken at Vienna, especially as recent public opinion polls in the Federal Republic of Germany show that people are in favour of more troop reductions there. Surely it is part of the British Government's commitment to a safer and peaceful Europe to offer troop reductions in central Europe, as part of our contribution to demilitarising Europe.

Mr. King

I am not sure whether the hon. Gentleman was present when I made clear our full support for the reduction talks in Vienna and our determination to play a full part in them as members of NATO. The proposals tabled by the Warsaw pact and by NATO involve items of equipment. The present proposals affect forces stationed outside the national territory of the United States and the Soviet Union. The most important thing for those who care about arms reductions and force reductions is that this first major undertaking is successfully completed with confidence and trust.

Mr. Batiste

Does my right hon. Friend agree that, as our troop numbers are contained, they should have the latest, most modern equipment to take fullest advantage of resources? Is that policy not wholly inconsistent with the Labour party's commitment to massive cuts in conventional defence expenditure? What assurance can my right hon. Friend offer to our defence industries and to the many thousands of people who work in them that the Government at least are committed to the sound security of this country?

Mr. King

Consistency is not a word with which one should ever charge the Opposition. Although they have proposals for massive reductions in defence expenditure, they never lose opportunities to complain about the potential job losses that they suspect lie somewhere within our proposals, which are for considerably greater defence expenditure—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. I ask hon. Members to settle down.