Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 26 July,Official Report, column 538, when he expects the high-level task force to complete its examination of further limitations on the offensive capabilities of conventional armed forces beyond those currently under negotiation at the CFE talks; and if he will place a copy of their report in the Library upon completion.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe London summit declaration set out the alliance's position that once a CFE treaty has been signed follow-on talks on the basis of the same membership and mandate should begin with the aim of building on the current agreement including measures to limit manpower in Europe. There is now agreement on this in Vienna and the HLTF is currently preparing the alliance's negotiating position. The London declaration also undertook to seek new conventional negotiations within the CSCE framework in the 1990s on further far-reaching measures to limit the offensive capability of conventional armed forces in Europe so as to prevent any nation from maintaining disproportionate military power in Europe. The HLTF will be formulating a detailed position for these talks.
A copy of the London summit declaration has been placed in the Library. The contents of HLTF papers are, however, classified.