§ Mr. MacdonaldTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many United Kingdom free-fall bombs(a) are currently stockpiled or deployed, (b) will be withdrawn from service in accordance with the announced cuts and (c) will remain in service;
(2) what means he intends to make available to international inspectors in order to verify the announced reduction in the number of United Kingdom nuclear weapons;
(3) what information he intends to make available to the House to verify the announced reduction in United Kingdom nuclear weapons.
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§ Mr. Archie HamiltonMy right hon. Friend announced to the House on 14 October at column 58 a substantial reduction in the numbers of our WE177 free-fall bombs. However, in keeping with the practice of successive Governments, we do not make public detailed information on our stockpile size. The question of verification does not arise.
§ Mr. MacdonaldTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to open the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear weapons to international inspection for the purpose of verifying the numbers of warheads and launchers deployed, and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe United Kingdom's nuclear weapons are not subject to any international treaty and there is therefore no requirement to make them open for inspection.