§ Mr. HillTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, at the next Council of Ministers of the Western European Union, he will take steps to require the administration of the Union to prepare a study of the factors to be taken into account in assessing the burden-sharing incumbent upon each member of the alliance for ensuring joint security, and to communicate this study to the assembly in Paris.
§ Mr. MellorThe issue of burden-sharing is already under discussion within the WEU. Whether any report that is produced is submitted to the Assembly is a matter which will require the unanimous agreement of WEU member states. However, we will bear the Assembly's interest in burden-sharing very much in mind.
§ Mr. HillTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the negotiations on the accession of Portugal and Spain to the modified Brussels treaty and on their effective participation in the Western European Security system.
§ Mr. MellorDiscussions with both Spain and Portugal on their possible accession to the WEU will open in The Hague on 26 May. Good progress has already been made in the discussions between Spain and NATO on a Spanish military contribution to the common defence.