§ 8. Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration his Department is giving to the implications for (a) the United Kingdom and (b) NATO of the declaration of a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons by the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindA declaration of no first use plays no part in the United Kingdom's or NATO's nuclear deterrent policy. We are giving no consideration to a revision of that position.
§ Mr. GapesThat is an amazing answer. Is not the Secretary of State aware that last year the United States Secretary of Defence, Les Aspin, wrote a book calling for a move from deterrence to denuking and at the same time called for a policy of no first use, and that the United States has introduced a comprehensive review of its defence strategy, including its nuclear strategy? That will have huge implications for NATO and this country, yet our Government complacently are doing nothing. When will the Secretary of State consider that issue seriously?
§ Mr. RifkindI have had several meetings with Mr. Aspin since he became Secretary of Defence. There is no question but that the United States continues to support current NATO strategy with regard to no first use. The hon. Gentleman appears to be totally unaware that, in their recently published new military doctrine, the Russian Government, for the first time, have stopped applying a policy of no first use. Their policy is now the same as that of NATO.
§ Mr. John MarshallDoes my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the essence of the nuclear deterrent is that any potential aggressor must remain uncertain as to our intentions and whether we would use it? Would not it be quite wrong for him to be tied down by Opposition Members, who still do not realise that peace has been kept through the deterrent rather than through their hot air?
§ Mr. RifkindMy hon. Friend is correct. The simple reality is that a no first use declaration would take us out of the realms of war prevention and into the realms of war limitation. That is not a policy which should appeal to Opposition Members any more than it should to anyone who wishes to serve the cause of peace.
§ Mr. CohenWill the Secretary of State give an absolute commitment that Britain will never use nuclear weapons or even threaten to use nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear state?
§ Mr. RifkindWe have already given such assurances with regard to any non-nuclear state unless it is in alliance with a nuclear state and is party to aggression by such an alliance.