Conference on European Co-operation and Security

HC Deb 31 October 1975 vol 898 cc621-2W

Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since the signing of the CSCE agreement have manoeuvres in which United Kingdom forces have taken part, or are about to take part, been notified to members of the Warsaw Pact, as required under the agreement, or voluntarily; and what manoeuvres they were, and when.

Mr. Mason

Three occasions. The United Kingdom has notified, under the terms of the CSCE Final Act, the participation of 6,000–7,000 British troops in Deep Express, a combined NATO manoeuvre held in Eastern Thrace and the Aegean Sea between 12th and 28th September 1975. The Governments of Norway and the Federal Republic of Germany notified their own national manoeuvres Batten Bolt, held in Norway between 3rd and 7th October, and Certain Trek, held in the Federal Republic of Germany between 14th and 23rd October. In these manoeuvres a small number of British troops participated.

Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since the signing of the CSCE agreement has any member of the Warsaw Pact notified NATO signatories of manoeuvres of 25,000 men within 155 miles of another country, as they are obligated to do, or of small manoeuvres, voluntarily; and if any Warsaw Pact countries have responded to invitations to attend manoeuvres in which United Kingdom forces were taking part.

Mr. Mason

The CSCE Final Act states that participating countries will give 21 days' notice of major military manoeuvres, exceeding a total of 25,000 troops, taking place on their territory, and that States may also notify smaller scale manoeuvres. In the case of a participating State whose territory extends beyond Europe prior notification need only be given of manoeuvres which take place in an area within 250 kilometres from its frontier, facing or shared with any other European CSCE participant.

NATO countries have so far received no prior notification of manoeuvres from any Warsaw Pact State. No Warsaw Pact country responded to an invitation, made by the Federal Republic of Germany, to all participants in the CSCE, to attend its exercise Certain Trek, in which a small number of United Kingdom forces participated.