North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Hansard, 17 February 1981)

§ 7. Mr. Stephen Ross
asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects next to meet his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation colleagues to discuss the future planning of the alliance.

§ Mr. Nott
At the spring meetings of the Alliance's nuclear planning group and defence planning committee.

§ Mr. Ross
When the Secretary of State meets his colleagues in NATO will he impress upon them the need to respond positively to the demands of the United States that we should improve our defences in Western Europe, particularly on the Turkish front? At the same time, will he make it clear to the Americans that there is no support for the neutron bomb in the NATO Alliance, and that if a request were to be made for it to be stationed in Europe permission would be refused by all countries concerned?

§ Mr. Nott
On the first point, we shall give every support to the United States. On the latter point, there are no proposals by the United States for the deployment of neutron warheads—enhanced radiation warheads—in Europe. The American Defence Secretary has made it clear that before that happens, he will have full consultation with his European allies. Therefore, no proposals are now before us.

§ Mr. Buck
Will my right hon. Friend emphasise to our allies that there is an increasing feeling that the geographical guidelines of NATO are irrelevant?

§ Mr. Nott
It depends a little on which country one is in as to the opinion one holds on those subjects.

§ Mr. George Robertson
As the decision to deploy cruise missiles in Europe was justified on the basis that it would accelerate disarmament talks and obviate the necessity for either cruise missiles or Soviet SS20s, when can we expect a major initiative from the Government to get those talks going?

§ Mr. Nott
As I said in answer to an earlier question, it was not until a firm decision was made by our European allies to go ahead with the long-range theatre nuclear weapons modernisation that the Soviet Union agreed to come to arms limitation talks in Geneva. It refused twice. It was only when it was clear that the NATO Alliance intended to go forward with this programme that their representatives came to the negotiating table. That must show that the Soviet Union only understands strength. It does not understand the sort of weakness that the hon. Gentleman advocates.