HC Deb 14 June 1991 vol 192 cc733-4W
Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what British contribution will be made to the reaction force planning staff at SHAPE.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Respective national contributions to the multinational reaction forces planning staff will be the subject of discussion within the alliance.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what role the RAF will have in(a) the new NATO rapid reaction force, (b) the new NATO main defence forces and (c) the new NATO augmentation forces;

(2) what will be the approximate size of (a) the new NATO rapid reaction force, (b) the new NATO main defence forces and (c) the new NATO augmentation forces;

(3) what British forces will be committed to (a) the new NATO rapid reaction force, (b) the new NATO main defence forces and (c) the new NATO augmentation forces.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Detailed discussions are continuing on NATO's new force structures.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements will be made for funding the new NATO rapid reaction force.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The detailed arrangements for rapid reaction forces are still being developed in NATO. As far as the United Kingdom is concerned, our contribution will be funded from the defence budget agreed in the public expenditure survey.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the Allied Command Europe mobile force will have in the new NATO rapid reaction force.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

NATO's new force structures will include both immediate and rapid reaction forces. The Allied Command Europe mobile force will form part of the immediate reaction forces. Details are still under discussion.