HC Deb 06 May 1970 vol 801 cc390-1
12. Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assurances he has received regarding the number of United States-controlled tactical nuclear weapons manned by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces in Germany, in the light of the superiority of the opposing Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces in numbers and conventional weapons.

Mr. Healey

I am satisfied that N.A.T.O.'s capabilities match its strategy.

Mr. Cronin

Would my right hon. Friend agree that a more definite reassurance on this issue is desirable in view of the strategic arms limitation talks which are now taking place in Vienna? Would he further agree that, whether or not we like it, in the last resort the land defence of Western Europe is at present dependent almost entirely on United States-controlled tactical nuclear weapons?

Mr. Healey

Tactical nuclear weapons are not among the subjects under discussion at the strategic arms limitation talks. Indeed, they are specifically excluded. The United States Administration have stated on more than one occasion in recent years that over 7,000 American tactical nuclear weapons are deployed on this side of the Atlantic. I do not think that my hon. Friend need be under any anxiety as to the adequacy of N.A.T.O.'s capability in this respect.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the United States presence in Europe is apt to be considerably reduced in the years soon to come? What is he doing to put in place of American tactical nuclear or conventional forces an adequate European deterrent to a Soviet attack?

Mr. Healey

The hon. Gentleman does no service to the cause which I am sure he espouses by stating as frequently as he does that it is inevitable that there will be massive American force reductions starting in the middle of next year. That is by no means the case. He must recall, if he was present during our last defence debate, the decision of Her Majesty's Government to return 6 Brigade to Germany in the autumn of this year. This is an example which has been welcomed by all our allies, and not least by the United States.