§ 10. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will institute an inquiry into arrangements for the safe transport of nuclear weapons by road.
§ Mr. StanleyLike other aspects of nuclear safety, the arrangements for the safe transport of nuclear weapons remain constantly under review.
§ Mr. JannerIs part of that review the exercise now known as Broken Arrow, one phase of which was recently carried out on Salisbury plain? If so, what is the involvement of police arid fire authorities in such exercises, given that they would have to cope with the emergency caused by a disaster such as that which could have occurred when Chevaline nuclear warheads were carried through the city of Leicester in the rush hour?
§ Mr. StanleyWe cannot breach the long-established policy followed by successive Governments for security reasons of not confirming or denying the presence of nuclear weapons in any particular location. As I have assured the hon. and learned Gentleman in parliamentary answers, however, nuclear safety, including the safe transport of nuclear weapons, is constantly under review and very close attention is paid to it
§ Sir John FarrWhen answering questions about the transport of nuclear materials and weapons around the city of Leicester, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that Labour Members, including the hon. and learned Mernber for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner), would have us abandon entirely our own nuclear deterrent?
§ Mr. StanleyI am grateful to my hon. Friend. We are very much aware that the Labour party has embarked on a policy of one-sided strategic nuclear disarmament, which we have no intention of following.