§ Q3. Mr. Blakerasked the Prime Minister what tests of nuclear warheads or their trigger mechanisms have been carried out by or on behalf of Her Majesty's Government since 15th October, 1964.
§ The Prime MinisterNone, Sir.
§ Mr. BlakerThe Prime Minister will be aware that he has given an undertaking that whatever is necessary for our collective deterrent will be done. I take it that he was referring to, among other things, testing. Since we do not have a collective deterrent, and, on the right hon. Gentleman's own admission, do not seem to be likely to get one for some time, will he give an assurance that in the meantime whatever tests are necessary for our own British nuclear armament will be carried out?
§ The Prime MinisterI have made it clear a number of times that we intend to internationalise in the way that I have described. If we want to do that, the deterrent must be kept up to date. I have made clear that we shall do whatever is necessary to make it effective in readiness for internationalisation.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeDoes the Prime Minister mean that these mechanisms can be tested if necessary? He will recall that in a debate some months ago he said that these mechanisms could not be tested under the test ban agreement. I am sure that this is not so, but will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that it is not so and that any tests which are necessary can be made by the British Government?
§ The Prime MinisterMechanisms can be tested. What cannot be tested is the 887 bomb as a whole. In the debate, I referred to the fact that the bomb as a whole has not been tested. We will have to consider—and the right hon. Gentleman will be aware of this; he knows what I am talking about—whether the disastrous flop which his Government undertook at very great—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—the disastrous test that his Government undertook at a very high cost to the British taxpayer with no results should be repeated.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI am content that the right hon. Gentleman has now reversed what he said in the debate some months ago.
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman may be content. I have reversed nothing that I said in the debate. What we intend to do is to reverse the disastrous and expensive policy of the right hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is nothing in the Labour Party's election manifesto about internationalising the British nuclear weapon to which he has just referred? Does he mean by internationalising it the retention of the nuclear weapon by this country and its testing in this country? If so, is he aware that there are many hon. Members on this side of the House who will not be at all happy with his reply?
§ The Prime MinisterHowever that may be, we made clear time and again, as I did from the Dispatch Box opposite and on many occasions, that our proposal was not to destroy any deterrent capacity within our hands, but we were not going to take any measures for the purpose of getting new and costly delivery vehicles such as Blue Streak or anything of that kind. We also said that what deterrent was in our hands would become collectivised through the Alliance. That is our policy.