HC Deb 11 February 1997 vol 290 cc90-1W
Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will conduct a study of the financial costs of NATO enlargement. [14778]

Mr. Soames

I refer the hon. Member to the communiqué issued by NATO Defence Ministers in December 1996, a copy of which is being placed in the Library. The relevant NATO authorities have been tasked to undertake military analyses and resource assessments of the implications of NATO enlargement. Work is in hand to allow the UK to contribute fully to the continuing debate, in NATO and elsewhere.