HC Deb 04 April 1990 vol 170 c681W
Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies he has undertaken regarding the feasibility of negotiations on(a) naval confidence-building measures and (b) naval disarmament treaties.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The greatest threat to stability in Europe comes from land-based forces, and United Kingdom and NATO efforts have therefore concentrated on those. The importance of sea lines of communication to NATO remains very great, and no proposals on maritime confidence-building measures or naval arms control have been formulated by the United Kingdom.