continuing work of the committee appointed in 1969 under the chairmanship of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry of Defence. But the Government has made good progress towards the objectives set out in paragraph 2 of this Statement. In particular:
(1) It can now offer a valuable improvement in its military contribution to NATO: the maritime strength of the Alliance will be increased by the decision on H.M.S. Ark Royal; the expansion of the T. & A.V.R. will provide an additional armoured car regiment in an emergency; and the revision of the Jaguar programme will make possible a major increase of four squadrons in Royal Air Force close support aircraft available to SACEUR. These measures together demonstrate the importance Britain attaches to the need for the European members of the Alliance to assume a fuller share of the burden of defending the North Atlantic Treaty Area.
(2) After consultation with the Commonwealth Governments concerned, it has decided the forces it plans to contribute, as a continuing military presence beyond 1971, to Five Power defence arrangements in the Malaysia and Singapore area: consultation on all aspects of future arrangements is now taking place.
(3) It has settled firmly what share the defence programme will take of public expenditure as a whole over the next four financial years, and how the major changes it plans to make will be accommodated within it. 42. Thus the Government has acted quickly to fulfil its undertakings; to demonstrate the importance it attaches to defence and the high value it places on the Armed Forces; and to make clear Britain's readiness within her resources to play a fuller part in the maintenance of peace in the world.
510467 Dd. 157734 K104 10/70 St.S.
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