§ 12. Mr. Stephen Day (Cheadle)If he will make a statement on the merging of the WEU's functions with the EU. [138583]
§ The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon)The Western European Union is not merging with the European Union. As announced at the WEU Council of Ministers in Marseille on 13 November, the WEU is being wound down and it is planned that some of its functions will be transferred into the developing EU defence structures. Those functions will include the WEU Institute for Security Studies, the WEU satellite centre and the WEU multinational advisory police element in Albania. A residual WEU body will be maintained to 631 service commitments under the modified Brussels treaty and to administer other remaining functions, pending decisions about their future.
§ Mr. DayI am grateful to the Secretary of State. I see that he has lost none of the Government's Orwellian talents in using language. The fact is that only one organisation will come out of what is effectively a merger of the Western European Union and the European Union. I would like the right hon. Gentleman to explain why, in 1997, the Government made it clear that such a merger—or, if he prefers, a joining together—of the two organisations would be a threat to NATO, whereas now the Government say that the same action will strengthen NATO. Which is right?
§ Mr. HoonI feel that I should apologise to the hon. Gentleman for answering the original question before he asked his supplementary one—which, unfortunately, has already been dealt with. The reality is that the two bodies are not merging; significant parts of the WEU will still be in existence. His question has already been answered.