Maritime Measures (Hansard, 3 April 1990)

§ 11. Mrs. Fyfe
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has considered any proposals on maritime confidence-building measures.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The greatest threat to stability in Europe comes from land-based forces. NATO's substantial proposals, tabled in Vienna in March 1989, have therefore concentrated on those.

§ Mrs. Fyfe
Does the Minister realise that this grudging response to the widespread concern about the lack of safety with regard to nuclear weapons at sea will concern the British public? Surely he realises that nuclear weapons at sea could cause a nuclear war, and when will he do something about it?

§ Mr. Hamilton
The hon. Lady must realise that the Madrid mandate applied to maritime activities in terms which covered amphibious activities but did not cover other maritime activities.

§ Mr. Boyes
Does the Minister recall that it had been argued by Ministers previously that the major obstacle to naval arms reduction talks was the growing Soviet submarine threat? To support that view, in the Defence Estimates 1988 we were told that the Soviets were producing a new submarine every six weeks; yet in yesterday's White Paper, at figure 2, we find that the number of Warsaw pact nuclear-powered submarines is now 85—four fewer than last year's estimate of 89. Now is undoubtedly an excellent time, in consultation with our NATO allies, to take up naval arms talks with a view to reducing naval forces, and the Secretary of State should press that view vigorously.

§ Mr. Hamilton
The reduction in the number of Soviet submarines had more to do with the fact that redundant ones are being replaced by more modern ones in terms of capability. I doubt whether it means a reduction. As the hon. Gentleman well knows, it is not right to compare our naval forces with those of the Soviet Union because we depend on our naval forces in the Atlantic for reinforcements, while the Soviets can reinforce over land. So we are not comparing like with like.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Last Thursday the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) drew attention to discussions and undue noise just prior to Prime Minister's Question Time. This is very apparent today. I ask the House to listen to the Questions Time.