HC Deb 14 February 1968 vol 758 cc1335-6
25. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in the absence of a fifth Polaris submarine, he is satisfied of the effectiveness of the British sea borne nuclear deterrent; whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Healey

I am quite satisfied that the four Polaris submarines will provide an effective contribution to the Western nuclear strategic deterrent.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

While felicitating the Secretary of State on at least maintaining the British nuclear deterrent, may I ask him whether, if he is unwilling to resign for the dishonouring of his own and repeated recent pledges east of Suez, he will consider resigning because of the breaking of the undertakings of the Labour Party to internationalise the nuclear deterrent?

Mr. Healey

As I pointed out in the recent debate, if Ministers resigned every time Government policy affecting their Departments changed, the Opposition Front Bench would be totally denuded of Members.

Mr. Powell

Has the right hon. Gentleman yet sorted out with the Prime Minister whether the British nuclear deterrent is a massive contribution to the Alliance or a pea on a mountain?

Mr. Healey

There is no dispute at all in Her Majesty's Government that the contribution made by the four Polaris submarines to the Western nuclear deterrent is a very substantial one indeed.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Are we to assume that the Prime Minister's definition of nuclear weapons—that using them would, adjectively, be lunacy—does not apply to the nuclear weapons used by Polaris submarines? Since America now has 40 of these submarines, nuclear powered, what on earth is the use of our spending £20 million a year in operating things that do not add to the deterrent?

Mr. Healey

My hon. Friend will be aware—and I take this opportunity to remind the House of this—that when the Prime Minister referred to the use of nuclear weapons being lunacy, he was referring to the use of them by United States forces in the current Vietnam situation; and I am sure that, on this matter, there is total agrement on both sides of the House.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of my right hon. Friend's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.