HC Deb 24 January 1963 vol 670 cc95-6W
55. Mr. Warbey

asked the Lord Privy Seal what changes will be made in British commitments to foreign Powers in order to ensure that in future British strategic nuclear forces will be used for the international defence of the Western Alliance, as laid down in the Joint Communiqué issued after the Bahamas meetings.

Mr. Heath

The only change involved is the acceptance of a new commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. This involves the contribution of V-Bombers and, in due course, Polaris submarines to a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation nuclear force which will be targetted in accordance with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation plans. The British contribution will, except where Her Majesty's Government may decide that supreme national interests are at stake, be used for the purposes of international defence of the Western Alliance in all circumstances.