§ Ms. Ruddockasked the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to the most recent Warsaw pact exercises in Germany involving (a) more than 80,000 ground and air forces and (b) more than 50,000 ground and air forces.
§ Mr. Ian StewartUnder the 1975 Helsinki final act, states were encouraged to notify major military manoeuvres exceeding a total of 25,000 troops. The Warsaw pact has held much larger exercises in the Soviet Union than in Germany. However, a number of exercises held in the GDR were notified, although the only notified exercise of the size specified by the hon. Member was a ground, air and naval exercise involving 60,000 troops which was held partly in the GDR in 1984. Under the Stockholm document, which came into operation on 1 January this year, it is mandatory to notify military activities involving more than 13,000 troops; but none of the exercises planned to be held in the GDR this year involves 50,000 or more troops.