§ Ms. Ruddockasked the Secretary of State for Defence if the Government have revised their view of the necessity for anti-tactical ballistic missile defence in anticipation of a successful conclusion to the INF talks.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe progress of the INF talks will, of course, be taken into account in the evaluation of the threat from tactical ballistic missiles. The current NATO studies, in which the United Kingdom is participating, are. examining the threat from conventional missiles and possible counters to this, and there is no reason to discontinue them.