§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the figures set out in Cmnd. 9227–1 indicating that the Warsaw pact:North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ratio for offensive mines is approximately 31:1, whether he plans to increase production of offensive mines; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieMost mines are capable of being used defensively or offensively. Only a proportion of NATO's mine stocks are earmarked for possible offensive use. We are considering plans to improve the quantity and quality of the Royal Navy's mine stocks. Our primary objective remains, however, to counter the mining threat, and I refer the hon. Gentleman to the programme of improvements set out in paragraph 414 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1984 (Cmnd. 9227–1).