§ 54. Mr. Warbeyasked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that, at the forthcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meeting in Paris, he will not agree to provide launching sites in Great Britain for intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I have no doubt that these, and other similar questions, will be discussed at the conference.
§ Mr. WarbeyCan the Prime Minister deny that the United States are seeking permission to establish intermediate rocket sites with their appropriate weapons in this country because they will not have, for three or four years, any direct means of reply to the Soviet intercontinental missiles, and will he say whether the Government are prepared to sacrifice the whole of the population of this country in order to protect the United States?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not know whether the hon. Gentleman attended the defence debates we had this year, but after the discussion in Bermuda it was agreed that these weapons should be supplied and sites provided in this country. Negotiations are in progress for finishing this agreement. We will provide sites, and afterwards the weapons will be transferred to the R.A.F. after a due course of training.
§ Mr. F. M. BennettIs my right hon. Friend aware that, unlike the hon. Gentleman opposite who asked this Question, most of us are more concerned about the weapons in the hands of our enemies than those in the hands of our allies and friends?