HC Deb 14 February 1968 vol 758 cc1315-6
1. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will redefine the clasification of information about Polaris warheads.

The Minister of Defence for Equipment (Mr. Roy Mason)

No, Sir.

Mr. Marten

If the multiple warhead is now fitted on to our Polaris, is it not true that the more we talk about it in terms of a deterrent, the better; or is it true that the Government agree with the Lord President of the Council that Britain's role is to be a spokesman for the non-nuclear powers? Could we have an answer to both those questions?

Mr. Mason

I am sorry to inform the hon. Gentleman that it would not be right for me to talk about what is a highly cassified matter. Classification standards were agreed with the Americans in the 1958 Exchange Agreement. They still stand. They have worked amicably, and I do not see any reason to lower them.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

How far does the Minister agree with the Prime Minister's statement yesterday that the use of nuclear weapons was sheer adjectival lunacy?

Mr. Mason

I agree precisely with what he said yesterday and with his reiteration of what he said in Washington.