§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Lord Elton's statement in his Written Answer to Lord Melchett (col. 467, 18th February) on the subject of the atmospheric consequences of nuclear exchanges that, "It would not be sensible to anticipate the validation of the hypotheses", implies that they have, in effect, anticipated the non-validation of the hypotheses, and if so, on what grounds.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Elton)My Written Answer indicated no more than that, in the Government's view, the nuclear winter hypothesis requires detailed scientific work to establish its validity or otherwise. The Government have not in any way prejudged the result of that work.