§ Mr. Christopher Murphyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Government policy following the Rome declaration on the future of the Western European Union.
§ Mr. RentonI have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Deakins) on 31 October, when I said that we have been working actively with our partners in the Western European Union to find ways of making better use of the organisation. We fully support the declaration and the document outlining institutional improvements which were agreed by Foreign and Defence Ministers at their meeting in Rome on 27 October and welcome their decision to meet regularly together within the WEU framework.
None of the measures which are to be taken to revitalise the WEU is intended to duplicate or undermine the Atlantic Alliance, which remains the foundation of our security. The activities of WEU can, however, help to bring about a stronger and more cohesive contribution to NATO from its members and increase public understanding of the European defence role within the alliance.