HC Deb 06 March 1990 vol 168 cc610-1W
36. Mr. Day

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence his Department has on the present military doctrine adopted in the Soviet general staff.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Recent statements by senior Soviet officials claim that since 1987, the Soviet Union's military doctrine has been strictly defensive. It has been emphasised by the Soviet Chief of the General Staff that the main direction of his department's work is to make the armed forces unequivocally defensive. However, the internal debate in the USSR over the precise formulation of a new doctrine following the current and prospective force reductions in Europe continues.

66. Mr. Anthony Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence his Department has on the policy of the Soviet general staff towards the doctrine of defence sufficiency.

120. Mr. David Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence his Department has on the policy of the Soviet general staff towards the doctrine of military sufficiency.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I refer my hon. Friends to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) on 2 March,Official Report, column 382.