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Nato Countries (Defence Contributions)

Volume 527: debated on Tuesday 18 May 1954

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asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence if he will initiate discussions in the North Atlantic Treaty Council on the desirability of standardising the period of compulsory military service in the organisation.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd) on 11th May.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence if, in view of the fact that the latest official figures of annual defence expenditure per head of population of the European member-States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, reveal a span from £3 to £35, he will now initiate discussions on the North Atlantic Treaty Council on the desirability of a fairer distribution of the economic burdens of defence.

The defence burdens of member countries are reviewed by the North Atlantic Council every year. Expenditure per head of population is not a valid basis of comparison.