HC Deb 29 November 1983 vol 49 cc472-4W
16. Mr. Hoyle

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the rules of engagement governing the use of cruise missiles based in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Heseltine

The concept of operations for ground-launched cruise missiles to be based in the United Kingdom was described in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1981—Cmnd. 8212—a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

19. Ms. Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received against the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

25. Mr. Terry Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received against the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

27. Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received against the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

28. Mr. Pendry

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received against the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

29. Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received against the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

49. Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received against the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

52. Mr. Michie

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received against the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

53. Mr. Ray Powell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representation he has received against the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Ernie Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received against the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Ron Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received against the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

Mr. McKelvey

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received against the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Heseltine

My Department currently receives about 250 letters a week from Members of Parliament and from members of the public expressing a variety of views about the planned deployment of cruise missiles in this country.

20. Dr. Marek

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the deployment of cruise missiles on the threat of a nuclear first strike against the territory of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Heseltine

The deployment of US ground-launched cruise missiles and Pershing 2 missiles in Europe in accordance with NATO's 1979 twin-track decision on arms control and INF modernisation will reduce the threat of a nuclear attack against the United Kingdom by strengthening the deterrent forces of the Alliance as a whole and seeking to redress the imbalance created by the continued Soviet deployment of SS20 missiles over the past six years.

33. Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now make a further statement on cruise missile operational deployment.

34. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the further delivery of cruise missiles; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Heseltine

NATO's plans provide for an initial operational capability to be achieved at RAF Greenham common by the end of 1983. Preparations to that end are continuing.

48. Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many cruise missiles have now arrived in the United Kingdom.

44. Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the number of cruise missiles now installed in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Heseltine

I am not prepared to discus specific details of equipment delivered to RAF Greenham common. I have, however, made it clear that the first missiles were delivered to the base on 14 November, that the first flight of 16 missiles is planned to achieve initial operational capability by the end of the year, and that NATO deployments are due to be completed over a five-year period.

Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received to date about the deployment of cruise missiles.

Mr. Stanley

My right hon. Friend has received about 1,500 letters from Members of Parliament and from members of the public about questions connected with the deployment of cruise missiles.

Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many protests he has received against the siting of criuse missiles in the United Kingdom from citizens in the London borough of Brent; what is the total received nationally; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stanley

No separate record is maintained of letters originating from particular parts of the country; but my right hon. Friend has received about 1,500 letters from Members of Parliament and from members of the public about questions connected with the deployment of cruise missiles.

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