HL Deb 17 May 1985 vol 463 cc1340-1

11.15 a.m.

Lord Kennet

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

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make a statement on the Icelandic Government's recent decision that nuclear-powered vessels carrying nuclear weapons will not be allowed to use Icelandic ports.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (Lord Trefgarne)

My Lords, we are aware of a recent statement by the Icelandic Government on their policy relating to nuclear weapons and visiting warships. We are not aware that they have made any statement about nuclear-powered vessels.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, will the Government consider compiling and publishing a record of which Governments say what about nuclear-powered ships and ships armed with nuclear weapons entering their ports, their territorial waters, and their economic exclusive zones, etc., in view of the histories of China, Japan, New Zealand, and of Scandinavia in general—and now, including Iceland?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I am not sure what purpose such a document would serve, but our views on this matter have been made very clear.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, does the noble Lord the Minister not agree that the position as described in the Question of the noble Lord, Lord Kennet, is not a recent development but reflects Iceland's long-term policy; a policy which is not dissimilar from that of Denmark and Norway in this respect?

Lord Trefgarne

That may be so, my Lords, but the policy of those Governments is of course a matter for them and not for me.