§ 19. Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in planning a NATO rapid deployment force for use in the Gulf.
24. Mr. loan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Defence, what consideration has been given to the possible creation of a rapid deployment force.
§ Mr. NottI refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Halesowen and Stourbridge (Mr. Stokes).
§ 27. Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Defence Ministers of NATO countries on the subject of rapid deployment forces outside the NATO area.
§ Mr. NottAt the December 1980 meeting of NATO's defence planning committee, Defence Ministers of NATO countries acknowledged that events outside the NATO area can bear directly on the security of all member countries. They recognised the benefits for the protection of essential interests of all member nations of the actions taken by the United States and others to deploy forces in the Indian Ocean and Gulf area.