Nuclear Weapons (Geneva Talks) (Hansard, 31 March 1982)

§ 15. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will give a progress report on the Geneva talks aimed at limiting the number of intermediate nuclear weapons held by the Soviet bloc and the West.

§ Mr. Hurd
In the first round of negotiations, which concluded on 16 March, the United States tabled a draft treaty embodying NATO's proposal to ban all the land-based intermediate range missiles of most concern to each side. The Soviet Union proposed limited reductions which would allow 300 such systems in Europe, but which would permit NATO no equivalent deployment. The second round of these negotiations will begin in May.

§ Mr. McNair-Wilson
Will NATO's special consultative group again be brought into action to consider the next stage of the negotiations? In my hon. Friend's view, is the zero option still on the table or is it a dead letter?

§ Mr. Hurd
The special consultative group, and the whole system of consultation within NATO, and between the United States and its allies, is working well in this area. The zero option remains on the table. It is embodied in a draft treaty. It is much the most radical and peaceable proposal on this subject that has been put forward by anyone, and we hope that everyone in this country concerned with the process of disarmament and arms control will support the zero option and do what they can to persuade everyone else to do the same.

§ Mr. Healey
While I welcome the Government's attachment to the zero option, does the hon. Gentleman agree that the planned Polaris D5 force will have the same number of warheads as the current SS20 force of the Soviet Union and, therefore, is difficult to ignore in any negotiation on European-based nuclear missiles?

§ Mr. Hurd
Not only is the right hon. Gentleman confusing Polaris with Trident, but he is also confusing intermediate and strategic weapons. We hope that it will soon be possible also to start negotiations on strategic weapons. We believe that that will be an important part of the process of seeking disarmament through balanced and verifiable measures.

§ Mr. Healey
I welcome that statement. Does it imply that the Government are prepared to throw the Trident D5 force into the START negotiations?

§ Mr. Hurd
The right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that that is nonsense.

§ Mr. Whitney
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the right hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey) seems to be ignoring the fact that the D5 option is related to the mid-1990's and that there are presently about 300 SS20's in position?

§ Mr. Hurd
My hon. Friend is right. The House discussed this matter in great detail on Monday. The question of my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson) related to the intermediate force negotiations now proceeding in Geneva. Surely it must be sensible to see whether we can make progress in this area. For that purpose, the United States, on behalf of the alliance, has made a very radical and worthwhile proposal.

§ Mr. Newens
Should the right hon. Gentleman not request the United States to defer deployment of cruise missiles in Europe at the end of next year if there is any possibility of agreement being reached? If that decision is not made clear at this stage, are we not presenting the conference with a fait accompli?

§ Mr. Hurd
It is up to the Russians. They have presented the alliance with a fait accompli by deploying the SS20s week-by-week in this period. If they now not only freeze that but are prepared to do away with this type of weapon, of course there will be no need for cruise and Pershing. That has been clear since December 1979.