HC Deb 08 May 1987 vol 115 cc552-5W
Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates when the high level group, the nuclear planning group, and the Defence Planning Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation each agreed to support the deployment of the W-79 nuclear shell by the United States in Germany; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates when the high level group, the nuclear planning group and the Defence Planning Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation each agreed to support the deployment of the W-79 nuclear shell by the United States in Germany.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his reply, I May 1987, c. 301–2]: The discussions of the high level group, nuclear planning group and Defence Planning Committee are classified. I cannot add to the public communiqúes issued after NPG and DPC meetings.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information he has received from the United States authorities as to which variant of the W-79 nuclear shell has been deployed by the United States in Europe;

(2) what information he has received from the United States authorities regarding the deployment of W-79 nuclear shells with those United States custodial units which support the British Army or the Rhine; and if' he will make a statement;

(3) when he was informed by the United States authorities of the deployment of the W-79 nuclear shell in Germany; and when he was first informed of the United States intention to carry out the deployment;

(4) what information he has received from the United States authorities about the deployment by the United States Army of W-79 nuclear warheads in the NORTHAG area of NATO;

(5) what information he has as to when deployment of the W-79 nuclear shell by the United States of America in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation commenced.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information he has received from the United States authorities as to which variant of the W-79 nuclear shell has been deployed by them in Europe; and if he will make a statement;

(2) when he was informed by the United States authorities of the deployment of the W-79 nuclear shell in Germany; and when he was first informed of the United States intention to carry out the deployment;

(3) what information he has as to when deployment of the W-79 by the United States in Europe commenced;

(4) what information he has received from the United States authorities about the deployment of W-79 nuclear shells with those United States custodial units which support the British Army of the Rhine; and if he will make a statement;

(5) what information he has received from the United States authorities about the deployment by the United States Army of W-79 nuclear warheads in the Northern Army Group area of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his replies, 1 May 1987, c. 301–2, and 5 May 1987, c. 364]: I refer the hon. Members to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 22 April at column 588 and on 27 April at column 28. Information exchanges between Her Majesty's Government and the United States authorities on nuclear matters are confidential.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the grades and ranks of the civil servants and military officers who attend each of the following North Atlantic Treaty Organisation bodies: the High Level Group, the Special Consultative Group, the Nuclear Planning Group, the Study Group of the Nuclear Planning Group and the Defence Planning Committee.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the grades and ranks of the civil servants and military officers who attend each of the following North Atlantic Treaty Organisation bodies: the high level group, the special consultative group, the nuclear planning group, the study group of the nuclear planning group and the Defence Planning Committee.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his replies, 1 May 1987, c. 307 and 5 May 1987, c. 364]: The Secretary of State for Defence heads the UK delegation to the Defence Planning Committee and the nuclear planning group and is supported by a team of senior officials and serving officers, whose composition may vary from meeting to meeting, drawn from the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the UK delegation to NATO in Brussels. The DPC and NPG also meet at regular intervals between ministerial sessions at permanent representative level. The senior UK representative on the high level group is a grade 2 official from the Ministry of Defence and, for the special consultative group, a senior trade official from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. They are supported by teams of officials and serving officers drawn from both Departments. The UK representative on the nuclear planning group staff group is a grade 7 official.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's Government's approval is required prior to the allocation of W-79 nuclear warheads by the United States to its custodial units supporting the British Army of the Rhine; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's Government's approval is required prior to the allocation of W-79 nuclear warheads by the United States to its custodial units supporting the British Army of the Rhine; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his replies, 1 May 1987, c. 302 and 5 May 1987, c. 364]: Modernisation of any United States nuclear warheads allocated to the British Army of the Rhine would require the approval of Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information he has received from the United States Authorities regarding their deployment of the W70–4 variant of the nuclear warhead for Lance in Germany;

(2) what information he has received from the United States Authorities concerning a potential enhanced radiation capability in relation to the W-79 nuclear shell deployed by the United States of America in Europe.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information he has received from the United States Authorities regarding the deployment of the W70–4 variant of the nuclear warhead for Lance in Germany;

(2) what information he has received from the United States Authorities concerning a potential enhanced radiation capability in relation to the W-79 nuclear shell deployed by the United States of America in Europe.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his replies, 1 May 1987, c. 302 and 5 May 1987, c. 364]: Information exchanges between Her Majesty's Government and the United States Authorities on nuclear matters are confidential. There have been no deployments of enhanced radiation weapons to Europe, nor has NATO any plans to introduce these weapons into Europe.

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