HC Deb 26 February 1985 vol 74 c164
16. Mr. Woodall

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning United Kingdom battlefield nuclear weapons.

Mr. Stanley

Battlefield nuclear weapons operated by United Kingdom forces consist of the Lance missiles and nuclear capable artillery in service with the British Army in Germany. The nuclear warheads for those weapons are provided by the United States.

Mr. Woodall

Will the Minister accept that that will be a disappointing reply to many people in Britain who are completely opposed to any kind of nuclear weapons? Will he press his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to obtain an option of no first use of those weapons when he goes to NATO?

Mr. Stanley

I am surprised at what the hon. Gentleman says, because the particular weapon systems to which I referred were all in service at the time of the Labour Government.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Will any statement that is made include reference to the Government's position in opposing the activities of CND by phone-tapping in so far as the Department treats it as an enemy of the state? Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that Parliament has a right to know and that we should have a full statement? Will he ensure that the Secretary of State comes to the Dispatch Box to make that statement?

Mr. Speaker

Order. I find it difficult to relate that question to question 16.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

Will the Minister now reply to the serious point made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Llanelli (Mr. Davies), when he asked him to ensure that in future there will be no discrepancy between statements made in the House, such as the answer given to me on 7 June 1984, and statements made previously in Congress?

Mr. Stanley

I do not think that I can add to the answers given on that question previously.