HL Deb 25 February 1981 vol 417 c1144WA
Lord Northfield

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they will take in co-operation with the European members of the Atlantic alliance plan so as to allow the United States, if need be, to free some of their forces in Europe to take part in the other parts of the world, without jeopardising the security of Western Europe.

Viscount Trenchard

There are currently no plans to redeploy any of the United States' forces permanently stationed in Europe outside the NATO area. However, the alliance fully recognises the importance of compensating for the possible diversion of United States' reinforcement forces and NATO planning is taking this into account. A number of short- and medium-term measures to improve force capabilities in Europe have been agreed and the United Kingdom is playing its part in these programmes.

House adjourned at twenty-six minutes past nine o'clock.