HC Deb 29 June 1982 vol 26 c275W
24. Mr. Norman Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any consideration has been given to the possibility and the strategy of a localised nuclear war confined to Europe in discussions with representatives of the Pentagon and Supreme Headquarters Allied Command Europe.

Mr. Blaker

No. NATO's primary aim is to prevent war by the strategy of deterrence. For deterrence to be effective a potential aggressor must be persuaded that if subjected to attack NATO would be willing to use its weapons, conventional or nuclear, but we have no plans to fight a limited nuclear war in Europe or anywhere else. In such a war there could be no winners.