HC Deb 14 February 1968 vol 758 cc1327-9
14. Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what agreement is in force between Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government re- garding United States aircraft carrying nuclear weapons over Great Britain.

62. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if United States bombers have permission to fly over Great Britain with hydrogen bombs or atomic bombs on board; and on how many occasions they have done so.

69. Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the carrying of nuclear bombs by United States planes operating from bases in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Healey

Procedures were agreed in 1958 with the Government of the United States whereby, under strict precautions, certain flights over this country by United States aircraft carrying nuclear weapons are permitted. I am not prepared to give details of such flights. They include flights from bases in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Winnick

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, arising from the recent unfortunate crash in Greenland, there is great concern in Britain over nuclear flights? Has there been any recent consultation about this matter, and is my right hon. Friend satisfied about safety from the point of view of radiation danger?

Mr. Healey

Perhaps I might deal with the various points raised by my hon. Friend. First, we are continuously exchanging information with the United States on every aspect of this problem. Secondly, no nuclear weapons which are flown in aircraft from the United Kingdom are armed. Therefore, if there were, unfortunately, to be a crash, there would be no risk whatever of an explosion. We are satisfied that any risk of radiation which might follow the wrecking of an aircraft which was carrying a nuclear weapon could be met by the special R.A.F. safety teams operating in support of the police and fire services.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Will the right hon. Gentleman give a public assurance that the safety measures operated by the Americans in this country are at least as good as, and in some respects better than, those of the R.A.F. itself?

Mr. Healey

I am not prepared to give the assurance that American practice in this respect is better than the practice operated by the R.A.F. I am satisfied that the American and British personnel involved in this type of operation are taking every possible precaution, and that the risk to life or property in this type of operation is minimal.

Mr. Frank Allaun

As my right hon. Friend has not answered my question about the number of occasions on which these flights take place, will he say "Yes" or "No" whether practice flights take place? Secondly, as there have been nearly a dozen accidents in recent years, will he ask Washington to end these over flying rights?

Mr. Healey

First of all, I will not seek to change the present arrangements, which I think are necessary for the security of our country and the Alliance. On the question of the type of flights with nuclear weapons—unarmed nuclear weapons, as I have made clear— they are either operational or logistic flights.