HL Deb 09 January 1996 vol 568 cc16-7WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they accept the view expressed by a NATO official in relation to the possible use by the Western European Union (WEU) of United States-provided NATO assets (reported in Aviation Week 20 March 1995, page 55) to the effect that the United States is reluctant to "lay out large assets without a say in how they are to be used [....] It's like giving your kid the keys to the car with no strings attached".

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)

It is not the custom to comment on views attributed to an ally by an individual. The NATO Summit Declaration of 11 January 1994 makes clear that the provision of collective Alliance assets for WEU operations will be on the basis of consultation in the North Atlantic Council.