§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether among the political and economic issues which are now to be discussed within NATO and within the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the desirability of keeping defence expenditures as low as is compatible with efficiency will be given priority, particularly in view of the level of defence industry lobbying taking place among the pre-invitee countries; and whether United Kingdom know-how 47WA fund advice on defence procurement is being offered to these governments.
§ Lord Gilbert:NATO Ministers issue resource guidance to enable military authorities to work in a realistic financial framework. The Government has made clear its determination to ensure the best possible output from defence resources, and does not wish to encourage any country to spend more on defence than it requires to meet its legitimate security aspirations. The resource implications of enlargement for the countries invited at the Madrid Summit to join the alliance are being analysed; their defence burden will reflect the position that no NATO ally is forced to rely on its national efforts alone in dealing with basic security challenges. No know-how fund advice has been given to these countries on defence procurement matters.