Oral Answers to Questions — Defence – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 February 2001.
Tim Loughton
Shadow Spokesperson (Environment, Transport and the Regions)
12:00,
12 February 2001
When he last met the NATO Secretary General to discuss European security. [148232]
Geoff Hoon
Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence
I last discussed European security with Lord Robertson at the North Atlantic Council Defence Ministers meeting on 5 and 6 December 2000.
Tim Loughton
Shadow Spokesperson (Environment, Transport and the Regions)
Does the Secretary of State agree with the head of the European Union's new military staff that, in time, EU rapid reaction forces will compete with NATO?
Geoff Hoon
Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence
No, I do not. Indeed, as we have negotiated the way forward between the EU and NATO, it has been clear Government policy that there should no duplication whatever of complementary abilities. We want to make sure that the remaining details that still have to be negotiated are right, and we fully agree with the United States that it is important that there should be no duplication of the various available facilities.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
