§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the policy of the British Government towards the proposal of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Defence Ministers' meeting in Ankara for putting atomic landmines along Turkey's frontier with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
§ Mr. HealeyThe N.A.T.O. Nuclear Planning Group is making an examination of the possible use of atomic demolition munitions in the defence of the158W N.A.T.O. area. This examination is by no means complete and no decisions have yet been taken. Following is the communiqué published after the recent meeting of the Nuclear Planning Group in Ankara:
The Ministers continued the discussion which they had started at their meeting in Washington in April of this year on the possible use of atomic demolition munitions in the defence of the Treaty area. While agreeing that conditions may vary in different areas, they recognised that in certain circumstances the use of atomic demolition munitions might have significant military advantages by creating obstacles as part of a comprehensive defence system. The Ministers reviewed various technical and military studies conducted since their previous meeting and gave directions for their continuance and further development for consideration at the next meeting of the Nuclear Planning Group".