§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the reduction in the fleet will reduce the capability to provide rapid reinforcement of North Norway with the Marine Commando Brigade; whether the United Kingdom will still undretake to convey the Netherlands marine battalion to that area; and what vessels in future will be used for the transport of the marines.
§ Mr. GoodhartAs a result of the planned phasing out of specialist amphibious shipping greater reliance will be placed on commercial shipping; this will lead to some loss of flexibility. A contingent from the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps constitutes an integral component of the United Kingdom-Netherlands amphibious force and any new deployment arrangements will apply equally to it.