HC Deb 04 February 1965 vol 705 cc1272-3
Ql. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Prime Minister what evidence is in the possession of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the efficiency and testing of the British warhead for the Polaris missile.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

Our evidence comes partly from the work of our own nuclear weapons laboratory and partly from the results of tests on similar nuclear devices which have been carried out by the Americans.

Mr. Hamilton

Can my right hon. Friend say quite specifically whether the British warhead has been tested and, if so, by whom? With regard to the fissile material to which he referred on 17th December, is it the case or not that we can produce in this country all our requirements? Further, can he say in what respects the information which he gave on 17th December was inaccurate and false, as was alleged by the right hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. Thorneycroft)?

The Prime Minister

On the question of testing, the facts are as stated in the debate on 17th December—that, as the House knows, it has not been tested but similar American ones have. With regard to the other statements which I made, I did on that occasion invite the right hon. Gentlemen opposite to come and discuss them with me if they had doubts about them, but they have not done so.

Sir A. Douglas-Home

I think that I said to the right hon. Gentleman that, although there were great difficulties about talking between the Opposition and the Government on general matters of defence, if he made any specific proposal to talk to us on any particular thing, of course I would consider it sympathetically. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] That was the position of the right hon. Gentleman when he sat on these benches. I hope that he is aware—I am sure that he is—that these are not questions on which we should go into detail at Question Time. They are very, very delicate matters.

The Prime Minister

On the particular point raised by my right hon. Friend, it is not the general question of overall defence talks; it was a specific point which was dealt with at that part of the debate. It is, of course, extremely valuable to the country that the right hon. Member for Monmouth should have written a couple of letters to the Daily Telegraph and quite a long article in the News of the World. But if he really wants agreement on the facts of this matter, and if he thinks that we are wrong, it might be a good idea if he were to accept our invitation to discuss them.

Sir A. Douglas-Home

We would like to make contact with the Prime Minister and see whether discussions on this particular matter would be valuable, as they might.

The Prime Minister

I am very glad to hear that. No doubt the right hon. Gentleman will consider the broader question of defence talks and let me know when it would be convenient for me to call upon him.