§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied that the reduced level of Service strengths set out in the 1975 Statement on the Defence Estimates is the minimum compatible with national security and the provision of an effective contribution to NATO.
§ Mr. MasonCommand 5976 sets out Her Majesty's Government's defence review decisions on the general level of defence and balance of forces which Britain should maintain to ensure our security and that of the Alliance. We will continue to maintain modern and effective forces to meet our essential commitments, but no public expenditure programme can be immune from changes in its forward plans.