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Falklands Campaign

Volume 32: debated on Friday 26 November 1982

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asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what percentage of the total personnel, including skilled personnel, taken by the task force to the Falkland Islands was drawn from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or assigned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Reserve;(2) what percentage of the total ammunition taken by the task force to the Falkland Islands was drawn from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation stocks or assigned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation reserve stocks;(3) what percentage of the total weapons systems, including Sea Wolf, Rapier and Blowpipe taken by the task force to the Falkland Islands was drawn from North Atlantic Treaty Organisation stocks or assigned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation reserve stocks.

Most United Kingdom forces are already committed to NATO. It therefore follows that a significant proportion of the task force deployed to the South Atlantic was drawn from forces so committed. The NATO authorities were kept fully informed of the reduced availability status of these forces at all times. It is not in the public interest to give details.