§ 10. Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Defence under what conditions Great Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent will be used independently outside its international rôle.
§ Mr. HealeyAs I told the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell) on 1st March, the Government cannot conceive of any situation in which we would need to exercise the right to the independent use of our strategic nuclear weapons.—[Vol. 742, c. 484–5.]
§ Mr. MartenCan the Government nevertheless confirm that it is our policy to use our strategic nuclear deterrent independently if our supreme national interest is at stake? Secondly, if that should be so, does that include Polaris and the exercise of our nuclear capabilities in N.A.T.O., S.E.A.T.O. and CENTO?
§ Mr. HealeyThe hon. Member has asked a hypothetical question about a hypothesis which Her Majesty's Government cannot entertain.
§ Mr. BlakerBut surely the right hon. Gentleman will confirm that the terms on which the British nuclear deterrent is committed to N.A.T.O. reserve to the Government the right to use that deterrent independently in certain circumstances.
§ Mr. HealeyAs I have made clear, I cannot conceive of circumstances in which we would need to exercise that right.