HL Deb 08 November 1995 vol 566 cc12-3WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether in relation to Lord Kennet's Question about the security from threats to nuclear installations attacks on which might lead to mass destruction, their statement that "the responsibility to counter all threats at such facilities rests with the country in which they are located" (HL Deb., 29th June 1995, col. WA60) is intended to suggest that:-

  1. (a) all governments with vulnerable civil facilities should erect anti-missile systems,
    2. WA 13
  2. (b) in view of Israel's attack on an uncompleted nuclear plant in Iraq in 1981, and recent suggestions in Israel that if a nuclear plant were found in Iran it should be attacked in the same way, Iran should set up an anti-missile system;
  3. (c) the element in the US Defense Counter-proliferation Initiative which contemplates the automated pre-emptive destruction of equipment and installations deemed by space sensors to be possibly "proliferative" should be pursued and;
  4. (d) they consider it would not be more sensible to make all attacks on such targets unlawful.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

It is for individual governments to decide, consistent with their international obligations, how to respond to threats to their facilities. The statement to which the noble Lord refers is not related to the US Counter-proliferation Initiative. As regards attacks on nuclear facilities, Her Majesty's Government are of the view that absolute protection cannot be given to installations which may contribute to a state's war effort.