asked the Prime Minister if he will initiate talks with the Canadian Prime Minister on steps which the two Governments can take to reduce their North Atlantic Treaty Organisation commitments and their total arms expenditure.

No, Sir.

Does my right hon. Friend not agree that any avenues which can lead to a reduction in the arms millstone around our necks should be explored? Would not he describe the attitude of the Canadian Prime Minister on this problem as rather helpful?

I discussed N.A.T.O. questions with the Canadian Prime Minister when he was in Britain recently. With regard to the exploration of avenues for reducing commitments to N.A.T.O., the only avenue that is in any way rewarding, if we can ever tread it, is one of mutually agreed reductions between Western and Eastern Europe.