§ VISCOUNT THURSOasked Her Majesty's Government what evidence they possess that the reduction of 640,000 men in the armed forces of Soviet Russia, which was announced on August 13 last year, has been carried out; whether the additional reductions announced on May 14, 1956, of over one million men, including three aircraft divisions, and thirty thousand men from East Germany has started; whether these reductions have been accompanied by any reduction in the number of major airfields suitable for jet aircraft in Eastern Europe; and whether there has been any reduction in the Soviet programme of ocean-going submarine construction.
416WA
THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (THE EARL OF GOSFORD)The only evidence so far received of the extent to which the reduction of the Soviet forces by 640,000 men, announced last August, has been carried out consists of statements by the Soviet leaders and the Soviet Press that the reduction has been completed. Although a few Soviet units have now been withdrawn from East Germany, we doubt whether much progress has yet been made with the further demobilisation of 1,200,000 men announced in May. So far as we know, there has been no reduction in the number of major airfields suitable for jet aircraft in Eastern Europe or in the construction of oceangoing submarines.
House adjourned at twenty-three minutes before six o'clock.