HL Deb 30 January 1975 vol 356 cc565-6

3.16 p.m.

Lord SHINWELL

My 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 when consultations on British reductions in defence expenditure with NATO, Commonwealth and other allied countries will be completed and the proposed White Paper will be presented to Parliament.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, the consultations with our allies are still in progress and are expected to be completed during February. The Defence White Paper will be published in March.

Lord SHINWELL

My Lords, I am obliged to my noble friend for that Answer. Can he say whether any reductions in defence expenditure have already been undertaken and, if so, what is the nature of those reductions? Will my noble friend also answer a second supplementary question which I venture to put to him? Can he give an assurance that no adjustments in the strategic situation, in so far as it concerns defence expendi-ture in the Indian Ocean and in access of the Persian Gulf, will be undertaken until, at any rate, after the discussions, which are now taking place in Washington, have been made known to both Houses of Parliament?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, if I may first answer my noble friend's second question, no changes will have been made before consultation. With regard to my noble friend's first question, the intention is that, so far as is possible, the expenditure for the immediate two or three years will be as forecast, but this gives sufficient area for manoeuvre to take account of the views expressed by both Houses of Parliament, by our allies, and by other interested persons.

Lord SHINWELL

My Lords, would not my noble friend agree with me that the discussions now taking place in Washington—particularly with regard to the strategic effects of any obstacle placed in access of the Persian Gulf—are very important indeed? Does my noble friend realise that the situation in the Persian Gulf is very fluid and consists of a potential danger which might affect our interests and the interests of the West much more gravely than the situation in the Middle East.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I personally am in substantial sympathy with my noble friend's view, and I am certain that the significance of the military situation in the whole of that area has not escaped the notice of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence.