HL Deb 16 January 1989 vol 503 cc94-5WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they now accept that progress towards greater stability in Europe at lower levels of weaponry will be risky and haphazard. unless a comprehensive security concept encompassing coherent and mutually consistent defence and arms control policies is developed.

Lord Glenarthur

NATO's policy has always been to pursue defence and arms control policies which are coherent and mutually consistent. An obvious example was the deployment in Europe of cruise and Pershing missiles, which laid the foundation for the INF Treaty. But equally today's defence planning must be based on today's reality, not hopes for the future. The Comprehensive Concept of Arms Control and Disarmament currently being developed by NATO will provide a useful overview of the relationship between the factors which determine our security.