§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what verification difficulties may be expected to arise in respect of a balanced reduction in nuclear weapons.
§ Mr. StanleyAdequate verification is an essential component of an arms control agreement. In both the INF and START negotiations, the United States and Soviet Union have recognised the need for verification provisions to assure the effectiveness of an agreement. The main method of verification would be through national technical means, but it has been recognised that measures going beyond this might be necessary.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 23 November, Official Report, c. 157, if he will state the elements of a nuclear weapons freeze that would be extremely difficult to verify.
§ Mr. StanleyThe following elements of a freeze could be extremely difficult to verify: research and development on nuclear weapons, low yield nuclear testing and the production and deployment of smaller nuclear weapons.