§ 21. Miss KirkbrideTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on national missile defence. [8805]
§ Mr. BradshawThe position is unchanged. We believe that it is important to tackle the potential threat from weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles as their means of delivery with a comprehensive strategy that includes arms control and counter-proliferation, diplomacy, deterrence and defensive measures. We will continue to work closely with the United States in all these areas. We understand the role that missile defence can play as one element of that comprehensive strategy, but as yet we have had no specific proposal from the United States.