Mason Review facts for kids
The Mason Review was a special look at how the United Kingdom (UK) protected itself. This happened in 1975. The UK government, led by the Labour Party, asked its Defence Minister, Roy Mason, to do this. They wanted to spend less money on defence. The goal was to reduce the defence budget to 4.5% of the country's total earnings, called Gross Domestic Product. This review helped plan what the UK needed for its defence from 1975 to 1985.
What the Review Was About
The report from the Mason Review was very clear. Even though there was a period of less tension between East and West, called Détente, the main danger to the UK was still the Soviet Union. Because of this, the UK decided to focus its defence money and efforts on its promises to NATO. NATO is a group of countries that work together for defence.
The review highlighted four key areas for the UK's defence:
- Helping NATO's main forces in Germany. This included the British Army on the Rhine.
- Forces that could fight against submarines in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
- Protecting the UK at home.
- Keeping the UK's own nuclear weapons as a deterrent.
To help focus on these important areas during the Cold War, the UK decided to reduce most of its forces in the Mediterranean Sea. There were also more reductions planned for forces in the Far East.
See also
- 1966 Defence White Paper
- 1981 Defence White Paper
- Options for Change (1990 restructuring)
- Military of the United Kingdom
