HC Deb 26 July 1988 vol 138 c216W
25. Mr. Bill Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the latest estimate of the conventional balance between the Warsaw pact and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

30. Mr. Parry

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the latest estimate of the conventional balance between the Warsaw pact and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

45. Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the latest estimate of the conventional balance between the Warsaw pact and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

68. Dr. Moonie

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the latest estimate of the conventional balance between the Warsaw pact and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The latest estimate of the balance of NATO and Warsaw pact conventional forces in Europe was published in chapter 6 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988". As the statement makes clear, the Warsaw pact enjoys huge numerical superiority and its forces are deployed so as to enable them to initiate surprise attack and large-scale offensive action. The Warsaw pact also has the potential to bring forward massive land-based reinforcements across relatively short distances. By contrast, NATO is faced with the need for many of its reinforcements to cross the Atlantic.