Chemical Weapons

HC Deb 17 February 1981 vol 999 cc126-7

9. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will hold discussions with the United States Secretary of Defence on the use of chemical weapons.

Mr. Nott

I have no plans to do so.

Mr. Allaun

Has the Secretary of State gone back on the public statement last month—[Interruption.] I cannot hear myself speak.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I thought it was the hon. Gentleman's hon. Friends sitting behind him who were making a noise.

Mr. Allaun

Has the Secretary of State gone back on the public statement by his predecessor last month to the effect that Britain should consider achieving a chemical warfare system capacity? What was the Ministry of Defence team doing in America recently?

Mr. Nott

Whenever a Ministry of Defence team visits the United States it discusses every aspect of the Warsaw Pact's capability, including nuclear, conventional and chemical weapons. The discussions were normal and nothing more. There are no plans to deploy chemical weapons hers at present. The hon. Gentleman suggested that my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, somehow committed this country to specific talks on chemical weapons with the United States. I must ask the hon. Gentleman to produce the statement to which he refers.

Sir John Langford-Holt

Does my right hon. Friend have any information about the possession by the Warsaw Pact countries of chemical weapons?

Mr. Nott

The Warsaw Pact has a large offensive capability in chemical weapons. That is of grave concern to the NATO Alliance. We are increasing our ability on the defensive side to resist an attack by chemical weapons.

Mr. Newens

The right hon. Gentleman says that there are no plans at present to deploy chemical weapons in this country. Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether there are any such plans under discussion?

Mr. Nott

No.

Mr. Warren

Will the Secretary of State make it clear in public that Warsaw Pact chemical and gas weapons are not in reserve but in the front line?

Mr. Nott

Certainly. My hon. Friend is correct. The Warsaw Pact has a large offensive capability in these weapons that is of grave concern to us.