asked the Secretary of State for Defence what decision has been reached about the Purchase of Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) for NATO nations.

The NATO Defence Planning Committee last week reaffirmed the need for a NATO AEW force and instructed that certain further outstanding work be undertaken in early January 1977 as a preliminary to a special meeting of Defence Ministers shortly thereafter. A copy of the communique issued after the meeting has been placed in the Library.