§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation response to the recent Soviet naval exercise; and what was the United Kingdom's part therein.
§ Mr. StanleyAs is usual with such exercises, NATO co-ordinated appropriate surveillance, which on this occasion was undertaken by naval vessels and maritime patrol aircraft from seven NATO countries. The United Kingdom contributed both ships and maritime patrol aircraft to the surveillance operations.
§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Defence to what he attributes the failure of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to realise the scale of the recent Soviet naval exercise.
§ Mr. StanleyWe were well aware that a significant Soviet naval exercise was developing.