§ 28. Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what types of conflict have been assessed by his Department as likely to be limited to the use of conventional weapons and not involve a nuclear exchange.
§ 30. Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he envisages that a conventional war could be fought in Europe without recourse to nuclear weapons.
§ Mr. NottIt is by no means certain that any East-West conflict would involve the use of nuclear weapons. NATO's strategy of flexible response aims to prevent such an escalation by making it clear to any potential aggressor that the risks far outweigh the potential gains of aggression94W at any level. The United Kingdom provides an important contribution to this strategy with its conventional and theatre and strategic nuclear forces.