HC Deb 14 February 1984 vol 54 cc116-8
8. Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to visit RAF Greenham common.

Mr. Stanley

My right hon. Friend has visited Greenham common in the past and has no present plans for a further visit.

Mr. Strang

Is the Minister aware that, notwithstanding the Government's propaganda campaign, there is a clear-cut majority against the deployment of cruise missiles? Will he admit that the women of Greenham common have forced the Government to rethink their plans to deploy the missiles throughout the countryside from time to time?

Mr. Stanley

I assure the hon. Gentleman that the Government's plans for the deployment of cruise missiles are as announced and are unchanged. I believe that there is a clear understanding that we will have a safer world by proceeding towards disarmament on a balanced basis, not on a one-sided basis.

Mr. Andrew MacKay

Is my hon. Friend aware that when our right hon. Friend next visits Greenham common he will find that the people of Berkshire have little sympathy with the so-called peace women, who they see as the unwitting allies of muggers and housebreakers in Thames valley? By their presence at the base they are diverting the police from their essential task of tackling hardened criminals.

Mr. Stanley

I assure my hon. Friend that the people of Berkshire, particularly those living immediately around Greenham common, some of whom have suffered significant reductions in the value of their houses, have shown immense restraint and moderation, as opposed to those who have been demonstrating around the base for such a long time.

Mr. Flannery

When the Minister says that the Government's policy with regard to missiles is unchanged, does that mean that the Government's policy is to keep 16 missiles at Greenham common, because they know that the vast majority of the British people are against cruise missiles and the Government are frightened to let them out around the country?

Mr. Stanley

I assure the hon. Gentleman that our policy on the deployment of cruise missiles, including off-base training, is unchanged.

Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith

As someone who visited Greenham common with various colleagues recently, may I ask my hon. Friend to bear in mind that we were reassured by what we saw? We also considered it a matter of regret that some Opposition colleagues who accompanied us seemed to regard the visit more as a propaganda exercise than a serious study of what took place. We came to that conclusion because they attended hardly any of the briefings that were arranged for us.

Mr. Stanley

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. From the report I have heard, he and his right hon. and hon. Friends conducted themselves with tremendous seriousness during the course of that visit, in contrast to others who accompanied them.

Mr. Boyes

Is the Minister aware that we demanded to go into Greenham common because Lady Olga Maitland and some Members of Parliament had been in? We wanted to see—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member must not give an explanation. The question is asking the Minister whether he will visit Greenham common.

Mr. Boyes

Is the Minister aware that following the visit of the Secretary of State for Defence — [interruptionl—some of us went there to find out for ourselves what conditions were like at the base? We did not intend to use it as a propaganda visit, but by putting cruise missiles in the base Conservative Members have allowed it to become propaganda. Is the Minister aware —[Interruption.]—that the barbed wire that has been installed inside the base is equivalent to four-inch knives and that if anyone goes near it he could have his fingers chopped off?

Mr. Speaker

Order. It is very difficult for me to hear, but I hope that the Minister has heard the question.

Mr. Stanley

I am sure that it was an instructive question, but I am afraid that I did not hear it.