§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the results of his Department in achieving the Government's policy programme since his predecessor answered a similar question from the hon. Member for Melton on 10 June 1980.
§ Mr. NottThe Government continue to attach high priority to the task of maintaining and improving the nation's defences through membership of the North Atlantic Alliance and this is reflected in the allocation of increasing resources to defence at a time of economic difficulty. The Statement on the Defence Estimates 1981, Cmnd. 8212, sets out the main achievements over the last year in carrying forward the Government's programme 119W including the decision to acquire the Trident strategic nuclear system. Since then, the Government have approved recommendations from the Armed Forces Pay Review Body in line with the commitment to maintain Armed Forces pay at the level of their civilian counterparts. I shall make a statement on the forward defence programme tomorrow.