§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has commissioned any research into the development of air-launched nuclear weapons for the Tornado aircraft; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian StewartIt is normal practice to keep under review the need to replace all the United Kingdom's in-service weapons systems. The free-fall nuclear bomb, which has provided our sub-strategic capability for some years now, is no exeption. Some technical studies in this area have been and are being carried out. However, no decisions on a replacement have yet been taken.