§ 5. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Minister of State for Defence what provision has been made in the current Defence Estimates for replacement, improvement, modernisation or modification of the warheads of the missiles used in the British Polaris submarines.
§ The Minister of State for Defence (Lord Balniel)It would not be in the public interest to disclose information of this nature.
§ Mr. JenkinsIf the Government were to abandon the idea of having a separate nuclear capability, would not this save a very substantial sum of money? Is not the maintenance of a separate nuclear capability by this country responsible for the fact that the cost of our defence is very much greater than that of almost all our N.A.T.O. allies?
§ Lord BalnielThe hon. Gentleman has drawn the wrong conclusion. Were one to abandon a nuclear capability, there would have to be a very substantial increase in expenditure on conventional forces.
§ Mr. John MorrisWill the Minister make it quite clear to his supporters, despite the statement made before the last General Election, that the Government have no intention now of building the fifth Polaris submarine?
§ Lord BalnielShould it be desirable to do so in order to maintain the credibility and strength of our nuclear force, we shall make such a purchase. I hope that the right hon. Member, in 640 return, will make it clear to his supporters that he supports a nuclear deterrent.