§ 21. Mr. Peter Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the currently increasing strength of the Soviet fleet, he will reconsider his plan to reduce the Nimrod force.
§ Mr. JohnNo. The reduction in the Nimrod force, which consists of the withdrawal in 1978 of one long range maritime patrol squadron, is a consequence of the reduction in our overseas commitments announced in the defence review.