HL Deb 23 March 1983 vol 440 cc1100-2

2.52 p.m.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the event of the unavailability for whatever reason of the President or the Vice-President of the United States, authority to launch cruise missiles from the United Kingdom would devolve on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and if so whether, in the light of events at the time of the attempt on Mr. Reagan's life, they have discussed these matters with the Speaker.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Belstead)

My Lords, we have every confidence that our long-standing arrangements with the Americans, under which any use of cruise missile bases in an emergency would be subject to a joint political decision, would work successfully with the President or his successor in accordance with the established United States constitutional procedures.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, I wonder whether I could ask the noble Lord the Minister to answer the Question? Have the Government consulted with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, on whom the decision would devolve if, for any reason, the President or the Vice-President were unavailable?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I do not know the answer to that question. The reason I do not know the answer to it is because I do not think that it would necessarily be appropriate.

Lord Bishopston

My Lords, will the Minister acknowledge the importance of this question: that a situation could arise in which, under dual control or dual consultation, the use of cruise missiles from United Kingdom bases may have to be authorised by the President of the United States and the British Prime Minister? Will the Minister say what contingency plans there are if the Prime Minister is again caught, as in the case of the Falklands, by an attack which, to use her words, comes "out of the blue" in a situation where the President of the United States is perhaps at a sporting event while the British Prime Minister is perhaps attending her hairdresser, and someone has to make a decision?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, it would depend upon the circumstances, but we would expect our bilateral arrangements to work in exactly the same way as if it were the President himself or the Prime Minister herself taking the decision.

Lord Mayhew

My Lords, has the noble Lord's attention been drawn to an interesting leading article in this morning's edition of the Daily Telegraph, which suggests that the missiles might be manned and operated by the Royal Air Force and the warhead armed by the United States? Are the Government not going to pay at least some attention to their supporters regarding this matter?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, the answer to the first half of the noble Lord's question is "Yes", while the answer to the second half of his question is "No".

Viscount St. Davids

My Lords, will the noble Lord agree that there is considerable feeling that this question might, on the other hand, be unimportant? Will not the noble Lord confirm that cruise is extremely slow as a missile and therefore could not be used as a first strike weapon? If, therefore, it were launched, it would inevitably be launched in retaliation for an attack by the Russians. Surely, then, the question whether one nation or two nations agree to launch it is unimportant. It will be launched.

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Viscount. The Government could not have put it better themselves.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, is the noble Lord not aware that sometimes there have been cases in which missiles have almost been launched as a result of false information, given by computer or by other means? Therefore, what is intended to be a second strike can become a first strike. Is the noble Lord not aware of the fact that there is an increasing feeling in the country that it is a gross dereliction of duty by the Government to allow a position to arise in which a matter of life and death to the people of this country can be determined by the action of a foreign national?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I have made it clear on behalf of the Government previously, but perhaps I should do so again, that the agreements between the United States and this country are reviewed and reaffirmed when a British Prime Minister or a President of the United States first takes office. The arrangements were last reaffirmed by President Reagan and previously by the Prime Minister when she was first elected to No. 10. The Government have satisfied themselves that the current arrangements remain effective.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord the Minister why he himself would consider it "inappropriate"—I quote his word—to inquire into the arrangements for the American decision to launch these missiles from British soil in the event of Nos. 1 and 2 in America being out of action at the time when the crisis came?

Lord Belstead

Because, my Lords, although I acknowledge that there is a clearly established line of succession in the United States for the office of President, the noble Lord would not expect me to go into details publicly about who might take over presidential responsibilities for the release of nuclear weapons in the event of the President or his successor being absent.