HC Deb 07 April 1964 vol 692 cc794-6
Q2. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Prime Minister to what extent it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to place her nuclear deterrent forces irrevocably in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation pool.

The Prime Minister

I would refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the Answer I gave to a similar Question on 24th March.

Mr. Henderson

Are we to understand from the Pr me Minister's reply and the statement made by the Navy Minister as Government spokesman in another place that the Government now accept in principle the passing of the British nuclear deterrent to a structurally strengthened N.A.T.O. common pool?

The Prime Minister

I think the right hon. and learned Member knows the answer to this question. We have allocated our nuclear arm to N.A.T.O. for all N.A.T.O purposes, but we have the ultimate control of it should any Government in this country so decide.

Sir J. Eden

Surely until there is some really effective form of political control and structure of command in N.A.T.O., it would be absolutely irresponsible for this country to contract out of our nuclear obligations?

The Prime Minister

I think that in all these matters we are speculating and looking a very long way ahead. Neither the Americans nor the French, when they have their own nuclear weapons, will surrender their own nuclear arm entirely to another organisation. Of that I have no doubt. I see no reason why this country should do so until we have a much clearer picture of what the international situation will look like.

Mr. G. Brown

As both the Minister for the Navy and the Secretary of State for Defence have said publicly that we ought to be looking forward to the day when we could pool nuclear arms, will the Prime Minister tell us what steps he is taking to bring about that desirable situation?

The Prime Minister

The first step I am taking is not to scrap our nuclear arm now. The second step is to wait until we see much more clearly the picture of nuclear arms in the world before we decide to scrap our arms.

Mr. Longden

Is it not the case that all my noble Friend the Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy was very sensibly saying was that "never" is a word which should never be used in politics?

Mr. Grimond

Is the Prime Minister aware that the Government spokesman in the House of Lords used the word "irrevocably" and said that the weapons would be irrevocably pooled when the organic structure for the Western Alliance was sufficiently strong? May we have it made clear whether the Prime Minister agrees with that and that in those circumstances these weapons will be irrevocably pooled? Secondly, may I ask what steps he is taking to make this structure organically strong? Merely keeping our own weapons is hardly a step towards strengthening the Western Alliance.

The Prime Minister

The right hon. Gentleman had better tell that to the French and the Americans because they both intend to keep their own nuclear weapons. What I am saying is that we should keep ours until we see much more clearly the picture of nuclear arms in the world.

Mr. G. Brown

Will the Prime Minister answer the question which he is dodging? Does he or does he not agree with the Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy and the Secretary of State for Defence?

The Prime Minister

As I understand it, my noble Friend in another place—

Mr. Brown

Let us have a straight answer.

The Prime Minister

I thought that the right hon. Gentleman wanted to understand what my noble Friend said. He said that he did not think that it was inconceivable that there might come a time when the organic structure of the Western Alliance was sufficiently strong for us to be able with entire confidence to place our nuclear armoury irrevocably in a common pool. I cannot possibly tell, first of all, whether the organic structure of the Western Alliance will take any form of that kind, and until I do shall not be able to say.

Mr. Brown

We want a straight answer.

Mr. Speaker

Dame Irene Ward, to ask Question No. 3.

The Prime Minister

rose—

Mr. G. Brown

Answer the other Question.

The Prime Minister

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will let me answer Question No. 3. This is a straight answer, too.

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