§ 1. Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has made an assessment of how many jobs are dependent upon the nuclear defence industry.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement (Mr. Tim Sainsbury)Our very broad estimate is about 40,000.
§ Mr. FrenchWhat proportion of those 40,000 jobs does my hon. Friend expect would be placed in jeopardy if the Green party's defence policies were ever implemented?
§ Mr. SainsburyIn that very unlikely event, all those jobs would be lost as well as a great number of others in the defence industry throughout the country.
§ Mr. John MarshallDoes my hon. Friend agree that much more important than the number of jobs involved is the fact that the peace of the world and the future of our country are dependent on the nuclear defence industry?
§ Mr. SainsburyI very much agree with my hon. Friend. The nuclear deterrent has proved its worth in the years of peace that we have enjoyed in Europe. I hope that we will continue to enjoy those years of peace because of our continued possession of an effective deterrent.