HL Deb 26 March 1987 vol 486 cc298-9

3.43 p.m.

The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Lord Trefgarne)

My Lords, I beg to move, That the draft International Headquarters and Defence Organisations (Designation and Privileges) (Amendment) Order 1987, a draft of which was laid before this House on 12th March, be approved.

It may also be convenient if I were to speak at the same time to the Visiting Forces and International Headquarters (Application of Law) (Amendment) Order 1987 because these two draft orders are complementary.

Headquarters United Kingdom Air was first established as a NATO major subordinate command in 1975 and since then has been manned by personnel from Headquarters Royal Air Force Strike Command. It has now been decided to bring this Headquarters into line with other major subordinate commands by establishing a small international staff to integrate the command more closely with NATO, which has agreed to provide funding for the measure. We are also taking the opportunity to designate the Commander Submarines Eastern Atlantic as an international headquarters following the granting of international status by the NATO Defence Planning Council in 1982.

The International Headquarters and Defence Organisations (Designation and Privileges) Order 1965 designated the headquarters for the three major NATO headquarters and three subordinate NATO commanders, and also the NATO Channel Committee at Northwood, and conferred on them such capacities, immunities and privileges as are needed to achieve their efficient organisation and operation. The effect of the first draft order is to add Headquarters United Kingdom Air and the Commander Submarines Eastern Atlantic to the list of subordinate headquarters covered by the 1965 order.

The second draft order similarly amends the Visiting Forces and International Headquarters (Application of Law) Order 1965. This order was made under Section 8 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952 which provides for the application to visiting forces of law relating to home forces. My Lords, I beg to move.

Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 12th March be approved.—[15th Report from the Joint Committee.]—[Lord Trefgarne.]

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, all that we on this side of the House wish to say is that it seems to be a very sensible arrangement.

On Question, Motion agreed to.