Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what expenditure will be saved as a result of not retaining the United Kingdom mobile force;
(2) what is the strategic rationale for the decision not to retain the United Kingdom mobile force.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe decision that NATO should reply on smaller conventional forces in Europe, with an increased emphasis on flexibility and rapid deployment was based on a careful reassessment of the risks of war in Europe, and developments in the Soviet Union. Against this background, "Options for Change" concluded that the role of the United Kingdom mobile force needed to be re-examined along with other deployment options for reinforcement forces on an Allied Command Europe-wide basis. Elements of the United Kingdom mobile force will be redeployed within our contribution to the new Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps structure. It is not possible separately to identify savings attributable to its disbandment.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations have taken place with his Danish, German and Norwegian counterparts regarding the withdrawal of the United Kingdom mobile force.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonDenmark, Germany and Norway were consulted, along with other allies, through the normal alliance procedures.