HL Deb 13 July 1999 vol 604 cc36-7WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the reference to "militarily effective and defensively structured armed forces that are firmly controlled by democratic civilian authority," in their Observations on the House of Commons Defence Committee Report on the Future of NATO and the Washington Summit indicates that NATO is encouraging the British Government to subject their military activities to the control of the British Parliament, or alternatively that NATO is content with the British system whereby the Government do not refer the activities of the armed forces to Parliament. [HL3468]

Lord Gilbert

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence and other Defence Ministers are fully accountable to Parliament for the actions of the Ministry of Defence, including those of the armed forces.