§ Q3 Mr. Wiggasked the Prime Minister (1) what atomic tactical weapons of British manufacture are now in use in the British Army; and whether he will state the additional types of atomic weapons of British manufacture it is planned to bring into use within the next two years;
§ (2) what atomic weapons other than the United States weapon Honest John, eight-inch howitzer, and Corporal, are deployed in the British Army of the Rhine; whether it is intended to retain Corporal, other than for demonstration purposes, beyond the end of 1964; and 617 whether it is intended to purchase the Sergeant and Lance from the United States of America for use by the British Army of the Rhine before the weapons are supplied to the United States and Federal German Republic armies.
§ The Prime MinisterThe British Army of the Rhine's tactical nuclear armoury consists of the Corporal, Honest John and the eight-inch howitzer. We have no plans for replacing them over the next two years from any source.
§ Mr. WiggI am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman, but it would help if he would extend his Answer a little bit and inform the House that these weapons are of American manufacture, and that they are obsolescent and that the warheads are under American control.
§ The Prime MinisterThe warheads are, of course, under American control. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] This applies—I have explained this before and yet apparently hon. Members still do not know it—to the whole N.A.T.O. tactical nuclear force. The alliance's tactical weapons are under N.A.T.O. control and the warheads are American.
§ Mr. WiggWould the Prime Minister agree that both the American and German forces are to get Sergeant and Pershing, which are far in advance of the obsolete weapons which we have now and which we will continue to get for some considerable time ahead?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. We think that the Corporal, Honest John and Howitzer will serve our purposes quite well. If we wish to add to this armoury of tactical nuclear weapons, there are nuclear weapons which we can acquire, but at the moment we do not wish to acquire them.
§ Mr. HastingsWill my right hon. Friend agree that the R.A.F., which is there to support B.A.O.R., is equipped with nuclear weapons of British manufacture?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. The bomber deterrent force has British warheads.
§ Mr. ShinwellWould not the Prime Minister agree that the weapons to 618 which reference has been made in the Question and in his Answer are useless without the warheads? If the warheads are under American control, where does the independent British deterrent come in?
§ The Prime MinisterI hoped that the right hon. Gentleman understood this. But, of course, the weapons are equipped with American warheads, and the N.A.T.O. alliance has an arrangement for the release of these warheads in an emergency. That applies to every member of the alliance. As far as the deterrent is concerned—the strategic striking force which is our only means of defending our own island—we have the ultimate control of this, although it is assigned to N.A.T.O.
Earl of DalkeithHas my right hon. Friend noticed the extraordinary inconsistency in the Opposition? Half of them imply that we do not have enough nuclear weapons and the other half that we should not have any at all.
Mr. H. WilsonIs the Prime Minister sure that he really knew all the facts on this last week? Is he aware that when I asked him, in the middle of his speech, whether he would inform the House how many British-controlled nuclear weapons were in the hands of B.A.O.R., after floundering a little, he said, "Not without notice"? Is it not clear that the answer which he should have given was "None, Sir"?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, it is not quite clear, because, as I have said, the ordinary tactical weapons for the whole N.A.T.O. alliance have American warheads and there is an alliance process for releasing them. But, of course, the Valiant, which is a tactical support weapon, has a British warhead.
§ The Prime MinisterThe deterrent force has British warheads.
§ Mr. Healey rose—
§ The Prime MinisterI beg the House's pardon. The Valiant has an American warhead, but the deterrent force assigned to N.A.T.O. for all purposes—and the TSR2 when it comes—have a British warhead.