§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the objectives of United Kingdom defence policy, distinguishing between those appertaining to the United Kingdom, British dependent territories, British military alliances and wider British interests, respectively.
§ Mr. StanleyThe principal objectives of United Kingdom defence policy are to preserve peace with freedom and to ensure the security of the nation and that of our NATO allies through collective deterrence against attack. We also seek to discharge our responsibilities for the external defence of our dependent territories, and to promote our security interests beyond the NATO area by means of exercises, deployments, peacekeeping, military sales and assistance, and the maintenance of a capability for military intervention. Further details have been given in successive "Statements on the Defence Estimates."