HC Deb 14 December 1982 vol 34 cc117-8
11. Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the installation of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Blaker

Preparations are on schedule for the deployment of cruise missiles at Greenham Common by the end of 1983.

Mr. Cryer

Will the Minister accept that the courageous women—[Interruption]—whos are blockading Greenham Common have my support and the support of millions of people throughout the United Kingdom? Does he not understand that cruise missiles will endanger these islands because there is no Government right of veto over their use? Is he aware that they represent an escalation of the nuclear arms race? Is he further aware that while he wrings his hands and talks about multilateral disarmament, he is participating in the ever-growing arms race? When will he listen to the voice of the people, which says "No" to cruise missiles?

Mr. Blaker

I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman, by declaring his support for these women, proposes to help or to hinder them. I do not question the sincerity of the women, but I do question their judgment and their knowledge. What they are doing is more likely to hinder the prospects of peace than to help them, and also to hinder the prospects of multilateral disarmament rather than to help them. In regard to escalation, the Soviet Union already has installed 333 SS20s, intermediate land-based missiles, which are capable of reaching the whole of Europe. On the Western side, we have none of an equivalent kind.

Mr. Prentice

Will the Government take every opportunity to make clear to our friends in the United States and elsewhere that the consequences of an occasional well-organised and well-publicised demonstration by a few thousand people is greatly outweighed by the continuing support of the majority of men and women in this country for collective security as the best guarantee of continuing peace?

Mr. Blaker

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. This is clear, I believe, to our friends in the United States. It is important that we should continue to explain the facts to the people of this country in view of the issuing of inaccurate information by the CND, which I can, if necessary, document. The United States agrees with us in putting high priority on the zero option, which, if adopted by the Soviet Union, would make unnecessary the adoption of any cruise missiles and would mean the abolition of the SS20s.

Miss Richardson

Does not the Minister realise that he does not help his case when he is patronising and condescending—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."]—about what happened at Greenham Common and the faith and dedication of the women who went there? The women believe that they are helping their families and their children. The Government have never sought the consent of the people for the installation of cruise missiles. It is time that the Government took public opinion into account.

Mr. Blaker

The cruise missile was debated in this House in January 1980. There have been opportunities to debate it frequently since that time. I was not questioning the good faith of the women who protested at Greenham Common. I was simply questioning their judgment and the likely effects of their action.

Mr. Major

Can my hon. Friend confirm to my constituents in Molesworth that if the Soviet Union were prepared to reduce the SS20s it already has in place there might be no imperative to introduce cruise and Pershing missiles under the present plan? In those circumstances, are not the silly, sincere and misguided women at Greenham Common and Molesworth damaging a genuine chance of multilateral disarmament?

Mr. Blaker

I agree with my hon. Friend about the consequences if the zero option were to be adopted by the Soviet Union. I hope that the Soviet Union will adopt it. I commend to the Opposition the brief words of Mr. Andropov, the new leader of the Soviet Union: Let no one expect of us unilateral disarmament. We are not naive people. We do not demand unilateral disarmament by the West.

Mr. John Silkin

The Minister of State was quoted in The Guardian today as having said—[Interruption.] I am quoting the Minister of State, who was quoted by The Guardian.

Mr. Robert Atkins

What about Peter Jenkins' article in The Guardian about the Trots in the CND?

Mr. Silkin

As I was saying, the Minister of State was quoted in The Guardian as saying that the women of Greenham Common were undermining Britain's ability to negotiate with the Soviet Union. [HON. MEMBERS: "Question".] The question that I am asking is, when was the last occasion on which the United Kingdom was in the negotiating chamber with the Soviet Union, talking about nuclear weapons?

Mr. Blaker

We are currently in the negotiating chamber talking to the Soviet Union about nuclear weapons.

Mr. Maxton

Where?

Mr. Blaker

In the committee on disarmament in Geneva.