§ 2.36 p.m.
§ LORD BOOTHBYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they realise that we are no longer a Great Power; that we can no longer police the world; and that our present expenditure on defence no longer bears any relationship to our national resources.]
§ THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE FOR THE ROYAL AIR FORCE (LORD SHACKLETON)My Lords, the noble Lord makes three propositions. As to the first, the term "Great Power" is too imprecise for useful comment, but my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary did point out in another place recently that this country is still a very considerable Power with great responsibilities in the world. As to the second, I do not know 408 in which particular period of recent history we thought we could police the world alone. However, the limitations which we accept on our contribution to peace-keeping were fully set out in the Statement on the Defence Review which was published last February. As for resources, the whole object of the Defence Review has been to bring defence expenditure into line with them.
§ LORD BOOTHBYMy Lords, arising out of that reply may I say that I am sure your Lordships will all agree—
§ LORD BOOTHBYMay I ask whether your Lordships do not agree that it was with relief that we heard the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday that something was to be done about the enormous expense of our Armed Forces in Germany, which are to many of us not serving any very useful purpose? Furthermore, may I ask your Lordships—
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, I am sorry to interrupt the noble Lord. He is empowered to ask a supplementary question of the Government, but he is not empowered to ask a supplementary question of the House.
§ LORD BOOTHBYI do not know what I am empowered to do, but I am certainly going to be empowered to ask my next question, which is whether Her Majesty's Government think that, while there is no question about our duty to protect our oil interests in the Persian Gulf and in Malyasia so long as confrontation exists and we are needed there, it is necessary to maintain at full strength this enormous complex of obsolescent bases sprawling all over the world from Gibraltar to Singapore, and whether they do not think they could cut down a little without jeopardising vital defence interests?
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I think it is a pity that the noble Lord did not take part in our recent Defence debate. The issues that he raises are so wide, and need such detailed consideration, that I do not think I can usefully comment upon them now.