HC Deb 07 July 1998 vol 315 cc508-9W
Mr. Colvin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to approve the comprehensive proposals on adapting the CFE Treaty's Flank position, tabled on 31 March. [48286]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The proposal to which the hon. Member refers was tabled on behalf of all NATO states in the course of the negotiations under way in Vienna to adapt the CFE Treaty. All NATO member states had approved the text before it was tabled.

Mr. Colvin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to amend the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty to reflect the changing European security environment. [48288]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The CFE Treaty was negotiated at the end of the Cold War, and limited the number of heavy weapons held by the countries of NATO and the Warsaw Pact in the area from the Atlantic to the Urals. The adapted Treaty will replace a bloc-to-bloc balance between two military alliances with limits on individual nations' weapons holdings, and territorial limits for equipment. This fundamental change will be accompanied by a series of enhancements to the detailed provisions of the Treaty, with the aim of further reducing tension between the States Parties, preventing the destabilising build-up of forces in the Treaty area, and improving military transparency.

Mr. Colvin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what limits on manpower levels have been imposed upon the United Kingdom as a result of the concluding act of the negotiation on personnel strength of conventional armed forces in Europe. [48287]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The limits on manpower levels for all participating States are set out in the Concluding Act, a copy of which was placed in the Libraries of the House (Command Paper 2164, presented in April 1993). The UK's limit for military personnel is 260,000.

Mr. Colvin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reductions the United Kingdom has announced in its Treaty Limited Equipment entitlements. [48289]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

Between 1991 and 1993, the United Kingdom reduced its holdings of equipment limited by the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty by 183 main battle tanks, 30 armoured combat vehicles, and 5 attack helicopters, to bring the holdings into line with the limits agreed under the Treaty. Further reductions in entitlements may result from the adaptation of the Treaty, negotiations on which are continuing in Vienna.