§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that current force levels enable him to fulfil all his existing defence commitments and that all specialist services are up to strength.
§ Mr. StanleySuccessive Governments have recognised that our primary commitment is to NATO, and United Kingdom force levels meet our NATO obligations. We also maintain an out of area capability which is based on giving selected units, whose main roles are within the NATO area, the ability to deploy rapidly at long range in a crisis. Our forces and their capabilities are described in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1985" (Cmnd. 9430, volumes 1 and 2). As far as specialists are concerned, there are some shortfalls against requirements in certain areas.