§ 16. Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is yet able to announce whether the nuclear test programme of 1974 was successful.
§ Mr. MasonThe single United Kingdom nuclear device test which was carried out in 1974 successfully met its prime objectives.
§ Mr. RookerWill my right hon. Friend confirm that this was not a "planted" Question? Will he also confirm to the House that there is no 1975 programme?
§ Mr. Mason"Planted" Questions are alien to my view of parliamentary democracy. I cannot confirm the latter part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question. I must await the full analysis of the test to see whether it may be necessary to have another test in future. It would be foolish of me to say that there will never be another test underground in Nevada of the effectiveness of our nuclear deterrent.