HC Deb 13 July 1976 vol 915 cc344-5
3. Mr. George Rodgers

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy with regard to the use of the British independent nuclear weapon capacity.

Mr. Mason

All British nuclear forces, including the Polaris submarines, are assigned to NATO, although they are under the ultimate control of the Prime Minister and could not be used without his consent. If NATO were to collapse we would have to take our own decisions, but while it exists our forces remain committed to the Alliance.

Mr. Rodgers

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it would be unthinkable for this nation to use this weapon as a first strike and quite futile to use it subsequently? In what circumstances, therefore, does he envisage its being used?

Mr. Mason

It could be used subsequently if necessary. The Polaris has a second strike capability, and we have that second strike capability while we have Polaris. Because we have it, this country will not be subjected to nuclear blackmail. We hope that it will deter, but if the deterrent did not succeed we would have the right and the capability for a retaliatory strike.

Mrs. Bain

Can the Secretary of State indicate how long he expects Polaris and Poseidon to continue to be sited on the Clyde in view of the fact that their siting is near a major population centre?

Mr. Mason

Polaris will continue for many years yet. Even in a conventional war, and without a nuclear capability in Britain, this island, because of its support base and its importance to Western Europe, would still become a target.

Mr. Robin F. Cook

Will my right hon. Friend categorically deny the allegation by the World Watch Institute last month that Britain is developing a new generation of mini-nuclear weapons which depend on gamma radiation rather than explosive force?

Mr. Mason

I have told my hon. Friend many times that we are not embarking on a new generation of strategic nuclear missiles. I will look at the report he has mentioned, but I guess that it is sheer Press speculation.