Polaris Bases (Hansard, 18 May 1972)

§ 13. Mr. Frank Allaun
asked the Minister of State for Defence if, following the resolution recently carried by the Labour Party women's annual conference, and also by the Glasgow City Council, copies of which are in his possession, he will consider ending the British and United States Polaris bases in Scotland.

§ Lord Balniel
No, Sir.

§ Mr. Allaun
Do not these bases make the British people a sitting duck for a nuclear bomb, and is this so impossible in the light of President Nixon's brinkmanship in Haiphong harbour? Would not removal of the bases enable Britain to give a lead towards détente and nuclear disarmament?

§ Lord Balniel
It has been the policy of successive Governments, including the Government which the hon. Gentleman supported, to maintain a nuclear deterrent. The whole purpose of a deterrent, of which these submarines form a part, is precisely to prevent the dangers of nuclear war, or any war. In that sense the submarines play an invaluable part in the defence of the Western world.

§ Mr. Judd
While the points made by my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) must be taken seriously, does not the Minister agree that longer-term issues are at stake? Will he assure the House that nothing he has said this afternoon implies an irrevocable commitment to second-generation Polaris?

§ Lord Balniel
I cannot see how anything I have said this afternoon can conceivably imply that.

§ Mr. Baxter
Is the Minister aware that notwithstanding what he has said about the last Labour Government, or any other Government, the people of Scotland are greatly concerned about the dangers to them and even to future generations? The Government of the day should take this very seriously because an upheaval could occur, as my hon. Friend has suggested, and the nation that would be the loser would be Scotland. Will the Minister take this into consideration?

§ Lord Balniel
As a Scotsman I profoundly disagree with the hon. Gentleman's reflection of Scottish opinion. He will be glad to know that I am taking the opportunity before too long of discussing the matter with a deputation from Glasgow Corporation.