§ 9. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of accidents to date involving Royal Air Force planes carrying nuclear weapons.
§ Mr. PattieThere have been no accidents involving Royal Air Force aircraft carrying nuclear weapons.
§ Mr. PriceWill the hon. Gentleman confirm that on 26 July 1956 a United States B47 nuclear bomber crashed 143 into a nuclear igloo at Lakenheath, in Sussex? Is he really saying that although the United States Government admit to 97 nuclear accidents since they have been stockpiling nuclear weapons, the record of the British Government is so remarkable that there has not been an accident of any kind?
§ Mr. PattieIf the hon. Gentleman had listened to my original answer he would have heard me say that there had been no accidents involving Royal Air Force aircraft carrying nuclear weapons. He went on to ask about the United States aircraft incident at Lakenheath in 1956. That question was answered by my right hon. Friend the previous Secretary of State for Defence on 9 November 1979, when he said that no nuclear material had been involved in that accident.
§ Mr. Bill WalkerIn view of that answer, and bearing in mind that the Royal Air Force was the major nuclear deterrent for many years, flying round the clock, does my hon. Friend agree that the fact that there were no accidents says much for the way in which the Royal Air Force operates?
§ Mr. PattieI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that.