§ Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of Soviet modernisation of their conventional weapons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian StewartI refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime 627W Minister on the NATO summit on 4 March at columns 1279–80 which emphasised that there has been no let-up in the Soviet Union's extensive military modernisation programme, covering both the improvement of existing platforms, weapons and equipment and also the introduction of new ones. For example, among major items a new version of the T-72 tank has recently appeared and a new heavy lift aircraft has been introduced, while new attack helicopters and a range of new missiles are under development. Further information is given regularly in the annual "Statement on the Defence Estimates".