British Army of the Rhine (Nuclear Weapons)

HC Deb 05 July 1967 vol 749 cc254-5W

Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what tactical and strategic nuclear weapons are now available to the British Army of the Rhine; and how this availability compares with the armies of Great Britain's major North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies.

Mr. Healey

The British Army of the Rhine is equipped with the Honest John free flight rocket and the 8-inch howitzer, both of which have a tactical nuclear capability, and this compares not unfavourably overall with the armies of our major N.A.T.O. Allies. In common with other N.A.T.O. armies B.A.O.R. does not have strategic nuclear weapons.