Thor Missile Bases (Hansard, 23 May 1962)

§ 39. Mr. Mason
asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is having discussions with the Americans with a view to reviewing the need for the continuance of Thor missile bases in this country and to agree upon a phased run down.

§ Mr. W. J. Taylor
No, Sir.

§ Mr. Mason
Why not? Is not the hon. Gentleman aware, first, that this is an antiquated weapon system; secondly, that it is highly vulnerable; thirdly, that it is an aggressive weapon and not a strike weapon; and, fourthly, that it has already cost us £12 million to maintain over the past twelve months? Is it not time that a review was made so that we can gradually dismantle it?

§ Mr. Taylor
All these supplementary questions are irrelevant to the Question on the Order Paper. Our agreement with the United States Government on the Thor weapon was published as a White Paper in February, 1958, for a period of not less than five years. It does not terminate at the end of this period and we shall have discussions with the American Government when we think they are necessary.

§ Mr. Mason
Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that his overlord, the Minister of Defence, indicated in the last defence debate and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air has indicated recently that it will be reviewed from time to time and not necessarily at the end of the five-year contract? Is it not about time that it was reviewed?

§ Mr. Taylor
The hon. Gentleman could not have stated the case better. It is being reviewed from time to time.

§ Mr. Mulley
Surely the Under-Secretary is not putting the proposition to the House that, if a Department makes a mistake, our defence policy must be geared to that mistake for ever and a day? Does he not recognise that there has been a great change—at any rate, one hopes that there has been a change—in the assessment of nuclear weapons since the agreement was concluded? Will he not look at this again to see whether these missiles fit into our defence requirements? It is not a question of when we signed an agreement.

§ Mr. Taylor
The hon. Gentleman is quite right—circumstances do change. The object of reviewing these matters from time to time is to take into account the changed circumstances. The fact is that at this moment of time we are not convinced that any change is necessary. We shall go on reviewing this matter from time to time.