§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he considers that any other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation country will be able to supply additional ships to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces to compensate for the reduction in the strength of the Royal Navy.
§ Mr. BlakerWe intend to consult our allies fully about our plans through the process of NATO's annual force planning review. Decisions about the deployment of their forces are a matter for them. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has already met his American and German counterparts and the secretary-general of NATO to explain and discuss our conclusions.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the reduction in the number of destroyers and frigates declared to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation at a readiness level above that of being in the standby squadron as a result of the recent defence review.
§ Mr. BlakerAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence indicated recently in the House, we shall seek to sustain future destroyer and frigate force levels at about 50 vessels compared with the 59 currently allocated to NATO. It is not our usual practice to publish details of the readiness state of warships.