§ 2. Mr. CranTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in his Department's review of Britain's defence commitments in Europe.
§ Mr. Tom KingWe are considering options for change in the scale and deployment of our armed forces and their supporting structures in the light of the changing international circumstances.
§ Mr. CranDoes my right hon. Friend agree that despite Mr. Gorbachev's good intentions—and there is no reason to doubt them—The Times was correct to draw attention today to the uncertain nature of Soviet politics and on another occasion to the fluid situation in eastern Europe? Against that background, does he agree that any defence cuts should be gradual and should take into account long-term rather than short-term political developments?
§ Mr. KingI certainly agree with the importance of recognising that while much has changed, some elements endure. Our responsibilities in other parts of the world, whether in the Falklands, Belize, Cyprus or Northern Ireland, have not changed in any way. We must continue to recognise those elements and the need to maintain our defences. The one element that I would add to what my hon. Friend said is that it is also important that we work in close partnership with the NATO alliance and consult it about any changes that we might have in mind.
§ Mr. DouglasWill the Secretary of State confirm that changing circumstances require changing strategies, particularly in relation to nuclear weapons? If it is now NATO strategy that nuclear weapons should be weapons of last resort, why is it necessary for at least three countries in the alliance to possess them? Why should we not be content—if we can be content at all with nuclear weapons—with one nation, the United States, having sole possession of strategic nuclear weapons?
§ Mr. KingIn the end a Government must take responsibility for the defence of their country. We believe that nuclear weapons have been for this country, as they have for others, the ultimate instrument of war prevention. We believe that nuclear weapons have saved millions and millions of lives. That is the key reason why Europe has just enjoyed the longest period of peace this century. It is against that background that we believe it is sensible to maintain a nuclear deterrent.
§ Mr. Maxwell-HyslopWill my right hon. Friend constantly remind the House that whereas the time sequence for developing new nuclear weapons and keeping current nuclear weapons effective is very long, the time sequence in which international political relationships can change is almost immediate? Therefore we must never bring about a situation whereby the Russian military deposing Mr. Gorbachev could leave us defenceless, effectively, against that changed situation.
§ Mr. KingI am grateful to my hon. Friend for emphasising the need for a certain prudence. No one could have observed the events of the past year without recognising the truth of what he has said. The headlong process of change that has taken place in recent months could alter. Today's announcement, encouraging as it is, might easily have gone the other way and then there could have been a great deal of tension in Europe. If the Soviet military establishment had finally decided that it could not accept a united Germany in NATO, we would face a different situation. The very fact that we believed that in 847 the end the Soviet Union would recognise the rights of the German people to self-determination and to choose to which alliance they belonged is extremely important.