§ 8. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he now has for a European nuclear force: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourNone, Sir.
§ Mr. AllaunThat makes me wonder why the Secretary of State for Defence raised the matter at the Conservative Party Conference, which he presumably did with the agreement of the Prime Minister.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Question, please.
§ Mr. AllaunDoes the Minister of State fully realise that any such plan would kill stone dead the growing détente between East and West in Europe?
§ Mr. GilmourMy answer to the hon. Gentleman's non-question is that my noble Friend made that speech because he was looking forward well into the future. The answer to the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is that I do not think that it is true. As I said earlier, any such plans are well in the future.
§ Mr. HefferWill the hon. Gentleman tell us how far the Secretary of State was looking into the future?
§ Mr. GilmourMy noble Friend made it clear last week that the only discussions there have been with the French have been to agree that any such development is a very long-term matter indeed.
§ Mr. HattersleyCould the hon. Gentleman re-interpret the Secretary of State's speech in the House of Lords a little further and more clearly? Is the hon. Gentleman saying that it is the Secretary of State's view that there should be a European nuclear force but that he does not believe that our NATO partners agree with it? Is that the position advocated by the Secretary of State.
§ Mr. GilmourNo, it is not.
§ Mr. HattersleyWhat is it then?