§ 73. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Secretary of State for Defence by what means Her Majesty's Government have sought to establish a new European grouping in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and why it will not be implemented in practical form in a Western European Union air/sea force within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in the Mediterranean.
§ Mr. HealeyI assume that the hon. Member is referring to the recent meetings of the Defence Ministers of a number of the European members of N.A.T.O. These are part of the process of estab-106W lishing a European view on defence matters of common interest. There is nothing formal or institutional in this approach; these meetings complement the normal co-operation in the defence field within N.A.T.O. It would not be appropriate to set up a W.E.U. air/sea force within N.A.T.O. in the Mediterranean, as, apart from other reasons, W.E.U. excludes the United States of America, Greece and Turkey, while Holland, Belgium and Germany, which are members of W.E.U., have no forces in the Mediterranean area. However, the House will have noted the establishment of a new N.A.T.O. subordinate command, Maritime Air Forces Mediterranean, in November, 1968, and also the approval given at the meeting of N.A.T.O. Defence Ministers at Brussels on 16th January to the concept of an Allied Naval Force in the Mediterranean capable of being assembled on call.