Defence Review And Defence Cuts

EDM number 897 in 1990-91, proposed by Bill Walker on 03/06/1991.

That this House, conscious of the ethnic and political unrest in Eastern Europe, the retention of some 12,000 nuclear weapons by the Soviet Union, control over which may come to be disputed, the continuation of international terrorism and of unrest in Northern Ireland, Britain's permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, the need to support the United Nations, and the unexpected and large involvement of British Forces in the Gulf and currently in Northern Iraq, believes that any cuts in Britain's Armed Forces made in the absence of a thorough Defence Review, whilst offering tempting short-term cost savings, risk facing the country with an unacceptable long term cost, the cost of defeat and unwarranted loss of life in war; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government not to entertain proposals for defence cuts, under the guise of Options for Change, until a comprehensive defence review has been undertaken involving roles, structure, logistics and training establishments.

This motion has been signed by a total of 7 MPs.