HL Deb 03 February 1997 vol 577 c128WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the military consequences of NATO enlargement, and of the belief among countries applying to join NATO that they will be required both to increase their defence budgets and to buy new military equipment from Western firms are being taken into account in discussions of the adjustment of the Conventional Forces in Europe Agreement to new circumstances.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

Defence budgets are a matter for each country to decide. However the purchase of any new conventional weapons systems must be consistent with the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty and the transparency provisions of the Vienna Document 1994 on Confidence and Security Building Measures.