§ 25. Sir Jim SpicerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the role of cruise and Pershing missiles in the defence of NATO in 1983–84. [13739]
§ Mr. SoamesThe introduction of cruise and Pershing missiles played an essential part in maintaining NATO's deterrent posture at a time when the Soviet Union was modernising and increasing its nuclear forces. Deployment of these systems paved the way for the successful conclusions of the intermediate nuclear forces treaty in 1987.