HC Deb 28 November 1989 vol 162 cc237-8W
48. Mr. Stott

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation about the possibility of reducing naval forces by negotiation.

95. Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation about the possibility of reducing naval forces by negotiation.

97. Mr. Galloway

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation about the possibility of reducing naval forces by negotiation.

113. Mr. Loyden

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation about the possibility of reducing naval forces by negotiation.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with his NATO counterparts, at which a wide range of arms control matters are discussed. The Alliance's priority in conventional arms control is to achieve stability in conventional forces in Europe, with particular emphasis on the Warsaw pact's land forces with a capability for surprise attack and large-scale offensive action. Maritime forces are explicitly excluded from the mandate for the CFE negotiations.