HC Deb 20 June 1963 vol 679 cc642-4
Q6. Mr. Healey

asked the Prime Minister what action he is taking to implement the obligation he accepted to use his best endeavours to develop a multilateral North Atlantic Treaty Organisation nuclear force which would ultimately include the proposed British Polaris submarines.

The Prime Minister

At Nassau we looked forward to creating a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation nuclear force, initially by the assignment of existing forces and later by the introduction of new weapons, to include British Polaris submarines. The first steps to this end were taken by the organisation of nuclear forces approved at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Ministerial meeting at Ottawa. Agreement has been reached with the United States Government on the provision of Polaris missiles for British submarines. The creation of a mixed-manned element is under consideration.

Mr. Healey

Is the Prime Minister aware that his colleague the Minister of Defence yesterday informed the House that Her Majesty's Government had already discharged their obligations under paragraph 7 of the Nassau communiqué, namely, to use their best endeavours to set up a multilateral nuclear force? Can the Prime Minister tell the House whether this most important statement represents the views of Her Majesty's Government as a whole, and whether it also represents the views of the United States Government who also signed the communiqué?

The Prime Minister

We fully carried out our obligations. We are now considering whether we can help, and if we should help and in what way, the further step which was mentioned in, I think, paragraph 9 of the communiqué.

Mr. H. Wilson

When the Prime Minister meets President Kennedy, will he ask him whether the American Government feel that Her Majesty's Government are carrying out to the full their obligations under the Nassau Agreement in this particular, and in view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman has tried to interpret the Nassau Agreement with the fiction that it gives this country an independent nuclear deterrent, will he ask the President of the United States whether he thinks that Britain is going to have an independent nuclear deterrent?

The Prime Minister

That part of the Nassau Agreement was discussed in great detail and, as the result, the conclusion was reached which is known to the House and has been debated at great length by which, while we will in all normal circumstances assign British nuclear submarines with Polaris missiles to N.A.T.O., we reserve the right in special circumstances of national danger to withdraw them for our own need.

Mr. Shinwell

But does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the proposals agreed on at Nassau, which are familiar to hon. Members, have now been superseded by the proposal for a mixed-manned force and in particular by the suggestion that instead of the adoption of the Polaris submarine we should accept the proposal for surface vessels carrying missiles? In view of the change in the situation, and in view of the evasive answers which we received from the Minister of Defence yesterday when he was asked about the probable cost and the nature of the operation conceived by the Government, will the right hon. Gentleman instruct the Minister of Defence to make a statement to the House which can be debated, particularly as the proposals have been hotly contested by hon. Members on both sIdes of the House?

The Prime Minister

These matters are under consideration and have to be discussed with us and our allies. If and when any decision is reached it will be stated to the House and there will be an opportunity for debate.