HC Deb 11 February 1985 vol 73 cc50-1W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation weapons which could be used in a first-strike.

Mr. Stanley

Any nuclear weapon with the requisite range to reach a given known target could theoretically be used against that target in a first strike, but in practice a first strike by either NATO or the Warsaw Pact would have no prospect of achieving success because each side has an assured retaliatory capability. It cannot be emphasised too strongly that 'first strike' forms no part of NATO policy.

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