§ 18. Mr. Evansasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent testing of a British nuclear warhead in the Nevada desert.
§ Mr. StanleyA British nuclear device was successfully detonated at the United States Nevada test site on 25 June. The yield was between 20 and 150 kilotons. The test was undertaken with the co-operation of the United States under the auspices of the mutual defence agreement of 1958.
§ Mr. EvansIs the Minister aware that in the opinion of the majority of British people the action of exploding that device was outrageous and provocative, especially in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster? At a time when Britain's ordinary defence forces are being reduced, why are we wasting money on such outrageous actions?
§ Mr. StanleyThe hon. Gentleman says that it was outrageous. If he believes that, I hope that he will ask himself why it was that during the time when the negotiations were taking place for a comprehensive test ban treaty under the last Labour Government, that Government detonated British nuclear devices on 11 April 1978 and again on 18 November 1978.
§ Mr. StrangWhat has been the Government's response to the Soviet moratorium on nuclear weapons testing, which has been in operation now for almost a year?
§ Mr. StanleyThe hon. Gentleman must bear in mind that since 1979 the Soviet Union has undertaken in excess of 150 tests, while the British Government have undertaken only 11.
§ Mr. Bill WalkerDoes my right hon. Friend agree that there is no point in having weapons delivery systems unless the warheads fitted to those delivery systems function and do the job for which they are intended, and that there is only one way to find that out, and that is to test them?
§ Mr. StanleyI entirely agree with my hon. Friend. It is necessary to maintain the effectiveness of our nuclear capability as the test programme takes place. That is exactly the same view as that taken by the Labour Government, as they stated in this House of Commons.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesWhat is the Government's view now on a comprehensive test ban treaty, since both American and Soviet scientists agree that, with the sophisticated seismic equipment available today, it is virtually impossible to conduct an underground test without it being detected? In view of that, why do the Government not now agree to a comprehensive test ban treaty?
§ Mr. StanleyAs we have said on many previous occasions, that is not the current scientific view of British Government or, indeed. The American Government, and there are still substantial verification problems that have to be overcome.