§ Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the content of recent NATO proposals for reducing military manpower in Europe at the Vienna talks.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggFurther negotiations are taking place in Vienna, in accordance with the CFE treaty, focusing primarily on measures to limit national military manpower in Europe. Under NATO proposals tabled on 4 July, a broad definition of manpower would be agreed including all full-time military personnel of land, air and air defence forces together with personnel in all other land-based units holding equipment limited by the CFE treaty. NATO's proposals would require each participant to limit and where necessary reduce its military personnel through an international commitment, in order to achieve a stable and secure balance of forces at a lower overall manpower level. Limitations should be implemented within 40 months of the CFE treaty entry into force.