§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his most recent meetings with the French Foreign and Defence ministers.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggMy right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Defence and for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs held talks with the French Foreign and Defence Ministers on 13 October. My right honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs explained the thinking behind the Anglo-Italian declaration on European security and Defence and there ensued a very useful exchange of views. The meeting was part of a pattern of bilaterals working up to the WEU ministerial meeting later this month, the NATO summit in November and the European Council in December.