§ 1. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement about recent discussions between representatives of the British, French and American Governments on nuclear weapons and bases.
§ The Minister of State for Defence (Mr. Ian Gilmour)There have been no such discussions.
§ Mr. AllaunWhat contribution is Britain making under the Non-Proliferation Treaty towards slowing down the nuclear arms race? Would it not help the SALT talks if, instead of trying to up-date the Polaris missiles, we phased out the missiles and their bases on the west coast of Scotland?
§ Mr. GilmourNo, I do not think so at all. We have signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the SALT talks are between Russia and the United States—we are not involved. It has not been the policy of either the present Government or our predecessors to give up our nuclear bombs.
§ Mr. PeartI know that we had this argument during the defence debate, but we should like soon to know whether we are to have Poseidon. Reports have 210 appeared in the Press which may be unfounded, but we should like to know, and my hon. Friend is right to press the matter in that sense.
§ Mr. GilmourI do not think that the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) was pressing it in that sense. I know the right hon. Gentleman's view on this and he knows the Government's view. We have said several times that we are not at the point of decision on Poseidon.