HC Deb 11 December 1989 vol 163 cc525-6W
Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation plans to deter the use of chemical weapons by the Warsaw treaty organisation forces following the complete withdrawal of United States chemical weapons from Europe by 1992.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

We believe that the strategy of flexible response will continue to provide the best means of deterring any aggression in Europe.

Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the deployment of United States binary chemical weapons to the United Kingdom in time of crisis under the terms of the United States' contingency deployment plan; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 3 November at column 625.

Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's chemical deterrence posture of the complete withdrawal of United States chemical weapons from Europe by 1992.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The United States will on present plans continue to retain a limited retaliatory chemical warfare capability, which will form a contribution to NATO's overall strategy of deterrence.

Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether NATO has adopted procedures for the authorised release of chemical weapons in Europe in time of crisis.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

No. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25 June 1986 at columns 163–64.

Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United States of America has adopted a contingency deployment plan for the deployment of chemical weapons in Europe in time of crisis; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 July 1986 at columns 489–90, to which I have nothing to add.