§ 45. Mrs. Castleasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the hydrogen bombers cruising over our heads at the moment carry enough plutonium to poison the population of the British Isles 20 times over, he will issue instructions that no bombs containing plutonium are to be carried on patrol or training flights.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)No, Sir. If the hon. Member will look at my Answer last Tuesday to the hon. Member for Gorton (Mr. Zilliacus), she will realise the inaccuracy of the information on which her Question is founded.
§ Mrs. CastleIs the Prime Minister aware that I got my information from a recent lecture given by Dr. Mendelssohn, Reader in Physics at the University of Oxford, who went on to say that he was astonished that this information was not more widely known, as it was freely available in any scientific library, and deeply regretted that politicians were not more scientifically-minded? In view of that, will not the right hon. Gentleman take some more serious scientific advice?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. What I said before is true, and I repeat it. My responsibility is to be able to assure the House that the chances of danger in any particular form are negligible. This I have done before, and I now repeat.
§ 45. Mrs. Castleasked the Prime Minister what is the factor in training of bomber crews which makes it necessary for bombers to carry the loading apparatus for the hydrogen bomb, seeing that the bomb is never armed in flight.
§ The Prime MinisterAs I explained last week, it is undesirable for aircraft engaged in operational training or dispersal exercises to be separated from their armament.
§ Mrs. CastleIs it not a fact that, on 18th March, the Prime Minister assured us that the bombers are never loaded or armed for the purpose in flight? Therefore, it clearly cannot be necessary for training purposes. Has not the time come to allay public anxiety on this matter, in view of the fact that it has been 589 announced on the one o'clock news today that a special meeting of the Supreme Soviet is being called this afternoon to announce the unilateral suspension of tests by them?
§ The Prime MinisterI am afraid I am not responsible for the Praesidium of the Supreme Soviet Council.
§ 48. Mrs. Castleasked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that no standing or routine patrol by hydrogen-bomb bombers will be instituted without first notifying Parliament.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I have already stated that there is no standing or routine patrol.
§ Mrs. CastleBut is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he has not answered my Question? If there is no standing routine patrol, what is to prevent him giving an assurance to the House that such a patrol will not be resumed without Parliament first being notified, which is what I asked him?
§ The Prime MinisterThere is no standing or routine patrol, and no intention to start one. I could not give an assurance that in no circumstances, however terrible or dangerous, that might arise, I should not take some step that was thought right. That, of course, would be to take away from the full purpose of the deterrent, which is to deter.