asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made since publication of the 1975 White Paper on Defence, Command Paper No. 5976, in reducing the naval, air and amphibious forces assigned to the northern flank of the NATO area.

The reductions in the United Kingdom Specialised Reinforcement Forces for NATO forecast in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1975 are proceeding as planned. Our post-defence review forces will continue to provide an effective reinforcement capability for the Northern Region.