§ Mr. TredinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to reduce the number of British troops stationed in Berlin; what discussions he has had recently with representatives of the other countries(a) France, (b) the United States of America and (c) the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, about possible troop reductions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonBritish forces will continue to fulfil our responsibilities for the protection of Berlin in conjunction with those of other Allies and we have no plans at present to change the size of the Berlin garrison, which will remain in place for as long as it is needed. The future requirement for allied forces in Berlin is likely to be discussed in the talks which will begin shortly between the four powers and the two German states on external and security aspects of German unification.