HC Deb 17 June 1980 vol 986 cc1325-7
11. Mr. Robert Atkins

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation colleagues about chemical warfare.

Mr. Pym

In consultation with our allies we keep under review all aspects of the threat that we face, one of which is the Soviet Union's massive offensive chemical warfare capability. The United Kingdom is committed to seeking a ban on the possession of chemical weapons, but unwillingness on the part of the Soviet Union to countenance the very necessary verification measures means that we cannot hope for early progress.

Mr. Atkins

I thank my right hon. Friend for that detailed reply. When does he expect to make a decision in the interests of our defensive capability, if he feels that we should have one, as I believe that he does?

Mr. Pym

Neither I nor the Government have plans for an offensive capability in that field. I am conscious of the increasing capability of the Soviet Union and the threat that that represents to us. It is, therefore, right to make inquiries and consider the implications in order to discover whether there are means by which we can deter the use of chemical weapons. It would be wrong for any country in the West to ignore the massive Soviet stocks of chemical weapons and the issues that those raise.

Mr. Duffy

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that any move by the Government to follow the path signposted by the hon. Member for Preston, North (Mr. Atkins) would be regarded as extremely controversial? In pursuing the ban, will he bear in mind the importance of seeing that it covers possession as well as use?

Mr. Pym

Yes, but so far there has not been the slightest indication that the Soviet Union will move in that direction. That is the cause of my anxiety. Not only will the Soviet Union not move in that direction, but it is improving and developing its techniques, which represents a risk to us. It would be a controversial decision if any change in our policy were made and I do not anticipate any such change, but the problem does not go away and neither does the risk. It is part of my responsibility to think about that with out allies. If we come to any conclusions that require an announcement, I shall make it, but I have no such intention at present.

Mr. Adley

Has my right hon. Friend noticed how the television companies seem to be obsessed with making so-called documentaries about our defence effort in this and other areas, and programmes that seem to be aimed at denigrating our friends and allies, yet we never seem to see similar programmes giving the public details of what the Soviet Union is up to in this area? Will my right hon. Friend have a word at some time with the Home Secretary to see whether the balance can be redressed when meetings take place between the Government and the broadcasting authorities?

Mr. Pym

I am not sure how much notice the producers of the programmes to which my hon. Friend has referred take of such representations. I regret that some of the programmes were not as balanced, informative or dispassionate as they might have been. A greater degree of genuine public information would be advantageous.