HC Deb 23 February 1988 vol 128 cc134-5
4. Mrs. Wise

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to the number and nature of nuclear weapons accidents or systems malfunctions.

Mr. Ian Stewart

There has never been an accident involving damage to, or release of radioactivity from, a nuclear weapon in the United Kingdom. Nor has there been any malfunction of systems associated with such a weapon which could have posed a hazard to service men or to members of the public.

Mrs. Wise

Has the Minister seen the "Handbook of Nuclear Weapons Accidents" published by Bradford university? Has he noticed that the handbook lists some horrendous near misses, such as missiles virtually launching themselves because of computer error, or weapons exploding and only by luck not detonating the nuclear warheads? Does the Minister not agree that, in the words of the former United States Admiral Eugene Carroll, our nuclear weapons are just a trigger to commit suicide? Would we not be better off without them?

Mr. Stewart

I am aware of the latest in the series of publications by the Bradford school of so-called peace studies, but, as usual with its publications, this one contains a large number of false assumptions. Not surprisingly, its conclusions are equally astray.

Mr. Squire

Has my hon. Friend seen the profusion of questions on the Order Paper from the Labour party on nuclear weapons? Does he consider reports that the Labour party may be moving towards an acceptance of nuclear weapons as an essential part of our—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The Minister cannot answer for reports about the Labour party.

Mr. Squire

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman made rather a duff start.

Mr. Cryer

Can the Minister confirm that there was an accident in Lakenheath in 1956 in which an American plane carrying nuclear weapons crashed on the aerodrome and was allowed to burn out, including its crew, because the danger of radioactive leaks from the nuclear weapons was so horrendous, and that it came within a hair's breadth of causing a major nuclear explosion at that time?

If that is true, why does the Minister not come clean about these nuclear weapons of which he is so proud—these instruments of mass extermination — and accept that they are dangerous to the people of this country?

Mr. Stewart

The assurances that I gave the House in response the original question cover the incident that the hon. Gentleman has mentioned, and all other such incidents.

We maintain stringent standards of safety with nuclear weapons, and it is worth remembering that the nuclear deterrent has achieved a longer period of peace and stability in the world than we have enjoyed for many centuries.

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