§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the military advantages over the existing NATO structure of EU countries allocating forces to a rapid reaction corps; [139953]
719W(2) what criteria he will apply to the provisional allocation to an EU rapid reaction corps of the UK armed forces currently assigned to NATO. [139951]
§ Mr. HoonThe UK is not allocating forces to an EU Rapid Reaction Corps.
The EU, with the assistance of NATO, has identified the required pool of forces and capabilities to carry out the full range of Petersberg tasks. EU member states have nominated those elements of their own national forces they believe could contribute to this requirement and have committed themselves to make further improvements to meet a defined level of capability (the 'Headline Goal') by 2003.
Our declaration of forces to NATO is unaffected.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what access to US intelligence facilities a separate EU rapid reaction corps will have. [139958]
§ Mr. HoonAccess by the EU to American intelligence facilities is a matter for the US Government. As a member of NATO, however, the US has welcomed the impetus being given to strengthening a common European policy in security and defence. Work is in hand to afford the EU access to Alliance capabilities in support of operations in which NATO as a whole is not militarily engaged.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the role of a separate EU rapid reaction corps in the creation of a common European defence policy. [139961]
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the USA about the European Rapid Reaction Force proposal. [140281]
§ Mr. Hoon[holding answer 24 November 2000]: William Cohen, the US Defense Secretary, speaking at NATO Defence Ministers Informal Meeting on 9–10 October, said,
Let me be clear on America's position. We agree with this goal—not grudgingly, not with resignation, but with wholehearted conviction".
§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what parliamentary scrutiny will apply to the agreements reached on setting up the EU Rapid Reaction Corps. [140087]
§ Mr. Hoon[holding answer 24 November 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House on 22 November 2000, Official Report, columns 319–20, and in particular my answer to the points raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Hull, North (Mr. McNamara). In addition the Government remain open to scrutiny by the Defence Select Committee whose remit is to "examine the expenditure, administration and policy" of the Department.