HC Deb 13 February 1979 vol 962 cc942-3
6. Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what agreement was reached at the Guadeloupe Summit regarding the development of a new nuclear missile to be stationed in Europe.

Mr. Mulley

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made a statement to the House on 16 January about the meeting which he attended at Guadeloupe earlier that month. I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's statement.

Mr. Evans

In his statement the Prime Minister said that the Summit conference was designed to create greater stability and to further the cause of detente. Does my right hon. Friend agree that we should seek to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and not join in to create more sophisticated nuclear weapons such as the neutron bomb and the SS20?

Mr. Mulley

I can assure my hon. Friend that we have no part in the development of the SS20. On many occasions I have made the Government's position clear on the neutron bomb, in supporting President Carter's decision not to proceed to its production last year. I also confirm that it is an important part of our policy to do our best to avoid proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Mr. Wall

As the mobile SS20 has a range of about 3,000 miles and can therefore be fired from inside Russia, and as the maximum range of the present new tactical nuclear weapons in NATO is 450 miles, is it not essential that we should either have a cruise missile or a new intermediate range ballistic missile in the NATO arsenal as soon as possible?

Mr. Mulley

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the question of the theatre nuclear weaponry is under consideration in NATO. We are awaiting a report, and until that is received and decisions taken. I can add nothing further.