§ 23. Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the standardisation of weapons in NATO as it affects British-produced equipment.
§ Mr. MasonSome progress towards standardisation in NATO is being made by a variety of means, including sale of equipment between member countries as well as arrangements for collaborative development and production. The Government are seeking to foster more rapid progress, as is evident from the initiative that I have taken in the Eurogroup to put more traffic on the "two-way street" of defence equipment purchases by the United States from Europe, and by Europe from the United States. Further progress will demand a readiness by all member countries to give and take.