HC Deb 07 March 1978 vol 945 cc622-3W
65. Mr. Goodlad

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet his NATO counterparts.

Mr. Mulley

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newton (Mr. Evans) on 21st February —[Vol. 944, c. 549.]

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the current level of NATO forces when compared to those of the Warsaw Pact; and what action he plans to take to improve the present situation.

Mr. Mulley

I am satisfied that NATO's strategy of forward defence and flexible response is valid and that NATO forces are sufficient to deter aggression. However, there is a clear recognition within the Alliance of the need to ensure that the effectiveness of NATO's defences is maintained in the face of the continuing growth of the military capability of the Warsaw Pact, and we are giving our full support to the long-term programme for Alliance defence in the 1980s initiated last May. In addition, NATO Defence Ministers have agreed on an immediate programme of short-term measures in anti-armour defence, war reserve munitions and readiness and reinforcement, and the United Kingdom is making improvements in each of these areas, details of which are given in the Statement on the Defence Estimates (Cmnd. 7099).

Mr. Churchill

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total manpower strength of Regular and Reserve Armed Forces currently committed to NATO compared to the same statistics for 1974.

Dr. Gilbert

These details are classified.

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