HC Deb 08 April 1971 vol 815 c667
25. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Minister of State for Defence what percentage of the defence budget is taken by units which will develop, deploy, or in any way use or be associated with nuclear weapons or bacteriological or chemical warfare.

Lord Balniel

The resources devoted to the Polaris force are detailed in the Statement on the Defence Estimates. It is not in the public interest to divulge further information of the sort requested by the hon. Member.

Mr. Jenkins

Is it not in the public interest that the public should know to what extent our forces are committed to the use of weapons which are internationally prohibited, or ought to be internationally prohibited if the human race is to survive? Therefore, should not the public know what the position is, even if not in particular detail? One recognises that the hon. Gentleman cannot give detailed information, but the public should know broadly what the situation is. Will the hon. Gentleman not, therefore, reconsider his answer?

Lord Balniel

No. To give the wider information for which the hon. Gentleman asks would be to give information which would be of assistance to a potential aggressor. I think the whole House will agree it would not be right to give it. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the forces would not utilise weapons which are prohibited by international agreements to which we are signatories.