Western European Defence (London Conference Agreements)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 October 1954.

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Photo of Mr Hugh Gaitskell Mr Hugh Gaitskell , Leeds South 12:00, 19 October 1954

While I fully agree with my right hon. Friend that we do not wish to pursue this matter in detail, there is one question of fact which is of great importance but to which the Foreign Secretary did not refer in his statement; I mean the question of the cost of this important decision. Could the Foreign Secretary give us some idea by how much the defence burden of this country is to be increased, if at all, as a result, firstly, of the restoration of sovereignty to Germany and therefore, presumably, the end of the payment of a contribution towards occupation costs by Germany; and secondly, the effect in terms of expenditure of the offer which the right hon. Gentleman has made that we should maintain four divisions and a tactical air force on the Continent?