Nuclear Tests (Hansard, 5 July 1977)

§ 4. Mr. Frank Allaun
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on future nuclear test explosions by Great Britain; if he intends a further test at Nevada; and if he will now discontinue research and development of a British Cruise missile.

§ Mr. Mulley
It has not been the general practice of any Government to give details of nuclear test programmes or to make prior announcements. On the last part of the question, I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the type of long-range Cruise missile under development in the United States. We have no programme for such a missile.

§ Mr. Allaun
While I am glad of those last few words, I am not glad about my right hon. Friend's opening words since he did not deny that there is to be such a test. Why is such a test needed if Britain carries out her election pledge that there should be no future generation of nuclear weapons? Secondly, would it not help the vital test ban talks if Britain forwent these tests and appealed to America and Russia to do likewise?

§ Mr. Mulley
I neither denied nor confirmed that there may be future tests. If one uses the form of words that have been used for many years, one is open to that kind of implication. It is quite impossible to answer speculative questions one way or the other.
As my hon. Friend will know, the Prime Minister announced that we are 1094 extremely glad to join the United States and the Soviet Union in trying to get a comprehensive test ban. Whether or not there may be some desire to have a test in future in order to maintain the effectiveness of our nuclear weapons, I can assure my hon. Friend that we should not want any considerations of that sort to stand in the way of a successful outcome to the comprehensive test ban negotiations.

§ Mr. Pattie
Is it not true that the achievement of the Soviet Union of nuclear equivalence with the United States means that the need for Britain to maintain her independent nuclear deterrent is all the greater? Will the Secretary of State confirm his support for the maintenance of the independent nuclear deterrent and say whether he believes that the Cruise missile should be a vital future option for this country?

§ Mr. Mulley
As successive Ministers have made clear, we have no intention of abandoning the existing Polaris weapons, but, equally, we do not intend to take a decision about a new generation of such nuclear weapons. With regard to the Cruise missile, we have no research and development programme but we have limited studies so that we can take an informed part in discussions on the defence and arms control aspects of the Cruise missile in NATO and at similar meetings.

§ Mr. Hooson
Does not the right hon. Gentleman resent the suggestion of his hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun) in relation to developing research on the Cruise missile? Does that not add to the view that Britain's alleged independent deterrent is no longer independent? Ought we now to take steps ourselves to acquire the American Cruise missile?

§ Mr. Mulley
With regard to the first part of the hon. and learned Gentleman's question, we have always made clear that the nuclear weapons, both strategic and tactical, which we have are assigned to the Alliance, although their use would be subject to the approval of the Prime Minister. It would be premature to take any decisions about the Cruise missile until the development programme in the United States is rather further down the road than it now is.

§ Mr. Newens
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the arguments which are frequently put forward to justify nuclear tests by Britain can equally be advanced in favour of nuclear tests by every other country that is able to avail itself of nuclear weapons? Does he not regard it as desirable to argue against some of these arguments, bearing in mind the dreadful cumulative effects that would be incurred if this country went ahead with nuclear weapon tests?

§ Mr. Mulley
I share completely my hon. Friend's concern about the proliferation consequences. Indeed, years ago, on behalf of the then Labour Government, I put forward a proposal at Geneva which, had it been accepted by the other Powers, would have led to a comprehensive test ban. Any tests that we have had comply in every respect with the partial test ban treaty that is in force. We should be the last country to seek to avoid any international obligations of that kind.

§ Mr. Churchill
Will the Secretary of State bear in mind the recent deployment by the Soviet Union of a massive new arsenal of strategic nuclear weapons, particularly Backfire and SSX20—a mobile intermediate—range ballistic missile—which are specifically directed at neighbours of the Soviet Union and at Western Europe? Will he give an assurance that paramount among our considerations in the preparation of a comprehensive test ban treaty will be the security of all the peoples of Western Europe?

Mr. Mully
The hon. Gentleman can be assured that all relevant considerations will be in the minds not only of ourselves but of our American friends. I have no doubt that the Soviet Union will be looking after her interests as well.