NATO
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes he plans to recommend to the disbursement arrangements for NATO's Common Funds. [127610]
Dr Murrison, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence [holding answer 9 November 2012]: While we have no plans to recommend changes to the disbursement arrangements for common funds at present, we do support a wider review of how common funding may be used, particularly if a way can be found to support collective training and exercises, an activity highlighted in the strategic concept, and thus maintain levels of operability post-international security assistance force. However, it must be a genuine force-multiplier and not a subsidy for those allies who do not invest appropriately in acquiring defence capabilities.