§ Mr. Roperasked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made in the WEU Council in the consideration of proposals to modify the restriction on German warship construction; if this is linked to alterations in the area of deployment of German naval vessels; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Ian GilmourThe modified Brussels Treaty of 1954 includes an undertaking by the Federal Republic of Germany not to manufacture in its territory certain types of weapons including warships, with the exception of smaller ships for defence purposes. The types of warships were specified in paragraph V of annex III of protocol III of the Treaty. Between 1958 and 1973 that paragraph was amended five times in accordance with provisions for amendment or cancellation laid down in the Treaty. At a meeting on 21 July the Western European Union Council agreed unanimously to a request from the Federal Republic of Germany that the paragraph be cancelled. The request was supported by a recommendation from the Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
The effect of the decision is to lift the remaining restrictions in the Treaty on the construction of warships in the Federal Republic of Germany.