§ Q6. Mr. Woodburnasked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that the performance of the proposed British nuclear warhead for Polaris missiles may prove superior to that used by the United States, whether he will consult President Johnson with a view to comparative tests to ensure that both the British and United States missiles will be fitted with the best warhead available.
§ The Prime MinisterInformation already available indicates that the performances of the British and American warheads will be closely comparable.
§ Mr. WoodburnIn that case, is there any justification for us duplicating the 223 expenditure required to produce this particular warhead? Would it not be much wiser to decide that, since we cannot have an independent weapon of our own and that we must buy the Polaris missile, we should buy the whole thing together?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, I do not think so. I think that we are producing a warhead which serves its purpose and that we should continue to do so.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Prime Minister aware that his reply will create confusion in the minds of ordinary people in this country, as it does in mine? We have two allies struggling to be the foremost nation in nuclear power and nuclear weapons and, at the same time, we tell the people of this country that we depend entirely upon the United Nations Organisation as the means of preventing war.
§ The Prime MinisterI wish that we could rely on collective security to provide the defence of this country, but we cannot. The hon. Member cannot have it both ways. He cannot criticise us for getting American material and then say that he wants to get everything from America.
§ Mr. WoodburnWould the Prime Minister clear up one point? Is it the same warhead, or a different warhead with the same potentialities?
§ Mr. G. BrownBoth.
§ The Prime MinisterI think that the right hon. Gentleman is right. It is probably both. However, I should like notice of that.