HC Deb 25 April 1978 vol 948 cc1162-4
8. Mr. MacFarquhar

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet the United States Secretary of Defence

Mr. Mulley

I next expect to meet Dr. Brown, the United States Secretary of State for Defence, at the ministerial meeting of the Defence Planing Committee in Brussels on 18th-19th May 1978.

Mr. MacFarquhar

When my right hon. Friend next meets Dr. Brown, will he confirm with him that all American nuclear weapons situated in this country are equipped with electronic safety catches and insensitive high explosive triggers? Will he tell the House why he was so unforthcoming in his answers on this subject, which is quite common knowledge in discussions in the United States?

Mr. Mulley

With regard to the answers that I gave my hon. Friend—I think on 13th April—I followed the practice of successive Governments over many years with regard to classified information in the nuclear area. When I see Dr. Brown, I shall certainly tell him of my hon. Friend's concern. But from my own visit to the United States Air Force, and my own inquiries, I am satisfied that all reasonable precautions as are possible are exercised by the United States Air Force in this country.

Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

Will the Secretary of State be using his meeting with Dr. Brown to tell him which airfield the Government have decided shall take the American KC135 tanker aircraft? Will he also be telling him that on environmental grounds it will not be RAF Greenham?

Mr. Mulley

As usual, the hon. Gentleman is trying to jump the gun. Important though this matter is to his constituents, I do not think this would be appropriate for a NATO Defence Planning Committee agenda. However, I have taken note of what the hon. Gentleman says. As he knows, I met a deputation from his constituency which was led by himself. We shall take note of all the points that were made to us and as soon as possible I shall announce a decision.

Mr. Flannery

When my right lion. Friend meets the Secretary of Defence, will he congratulate him on the fact that the United States are not going ahead with the neutron bomb? Can he assure us that no one in the United States, or in the Tory Party in this country, is planning a bomb which will destroy trade unionists and Socialists?

Mr. Mulley

I shall certainly convey my hon. Friend's congratulations to Secretary Brown. But I am afraid that on this subject or any other I would hesitate to give any assurance on behalf of the Tory Party because, as I hope the electors of this country have now come to realise, there is an immense difference between Tory protestations and promises before elections and their performances in office.

Sir Ian Gilmour

Why during the last few months did not the Government seek to help President Carter with regard to the neutron bomb by telling him what the Government know to be true—that Europe needs this weapon?

Mr. Mulley

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear on a number of occasions, there has always been the question of the conflict and question of balance between the military advantage on the one hand and the arms control considerations on the other. As the Prime Minister has said, we accept and support President Carter's decision. I think that is right in the sense of this particular situation and in the sense of the alliance. That is far better than the irresponsible attack on President Carter which the right hon. Gentleman made at the time of the decision.