HC Deb 15 October 1991 vol 196 c143W
24. Mr. Anthony Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with NATO members on the development of a rapid reaction force.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State told the House on 4 June, the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in May this year agreed to the creation of a new Allied Command Europe rapid reaction corps under permanent United Kingdom command. Since then discussions have taken place at official level on the detailed structure of the corps, and on the sea and air elements of the reaction forces.