HC Deb 13 November 1984 vol 67 cc526-7
9. Mr. Tony Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to hold discussions with representatives of the United States of America Government.

Mr. Heseltine

I have no plans to do so in advance of the NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels in December.

Mr. Lloyd

Does the Secretary of State realise how unsatisfactory his right hon. Friend's answer was to the question of my right hon. Friend the Member for Llanelli (Mr. Davies) about the follow-on force attack? Would it not be appropriate for the Secretary of State to inform his American counterparts of the growing anxiety in this country and western Europe about the dangers, through follow-on force attack, of an early use of nuclear weapons? Will he advise the House whether there will be a debate on this important issue before 4 December, when the final decision will be made?

Mr. Heseltine

I found the answer of my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces wholly convincing. If the Opposition are suggesting that in the event of warfare we should not be allowed to attack the airfields in the Soviet Union or their tanks before they mass and attack us, it shows a degree of naivety towards defence policy which exceeds even that which inflicted such a severe defeat on the Labour party at the general election.

Sir Nicholas Bonsor

When my right hon. Friend meets the United States Government, will he stress the comparative weakness of the northern flank of the NATO Alliance and ask them to commit a greater element of naval support to that area in the event of an attack?

Mr. Heseltine

I am pleased to say that even in the past few days I have been able to have detailed discussions with my Norwegian and Danish colleagues who, of course, are aware of the concern of the whole Alliance to ensure that our defence spreads across the territory of NATO rather than any one specific part of it. Therefore, although we keep under constant review areas in which we think there may be a relative, though not an absolute weakness, they may be assured that we continue to do all that we can to maintain the credibility of our deterrence in all areas.

Mr. Denzil Davies

Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that, as he has already told the House, follow-on force attack is not part of NATO's strategy, but that in December NATO will be asked to approve that strategy, which is at present basically a US army strategy, as NATO strategy? If such a decision is taken, will the right hon. Gentleman make a statement to the House, as it is an important shift in NATO strategy?

Mr. Heseltine

The right hon. Gentleman is far from keeping abreast of developments. On 9 November the NATO Alliance, through the Defence Planning Committee in permanent session, adopted the follow-on force attack policy, but the idea that there is something new in the concept that an alliance, if ever it found itself in hostile circumstances, should be allowed to strike deep in enemy territory is the most extraordinary abdication of defence capabilities.