HC Deb 31 October 1986 vol 103 c273W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many W-79 nuclear shells Britain has agreed to take for issuing to the British Army of the Rhine;

(2) when he intends to make a statement concerning the modernisation of the British Army of the Rhine's nuclear artillery shells.

Mr. Stanley

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Cartwright) on 29 October.

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards deployment by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation of the W79 nuclear warhead.

Mr. Stanley

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) on 20 January 1986 at columns90–91 and to the latest communiqué of the NATO Nuclear Planning Group, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. No decisions have been taken regarding the modernisation of the battlefield nuclear weapons of British forces.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which artillery systems currently in service with the British Army of the Rhine are capable of firing the W-79 nuclear shell.

Mr. Stanley

The M110.