§ Mr. Woofasked the Minister of State for Defence what steps he proposes to take to seek a relaxation of the restrictions imposed by the MacMahon Act on the dissemination of technical information about nuclear weapons.
§ Lord BalnielNone. United States legislation is a matter for the United States Government.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Minister of State for Defence what is the current estimated annual cost of maintaining Great Britain's Polaris nuclear deterrent.
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§ Lord BalnielThe estimated cost for 1971–72 is £34 million, as shown in Annex B, Table 3, of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1971. The estimate for 1972–73 will be given in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1972.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Minister of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's Government will refrain from any action which would result in the further spread of nuclear weapons to European countries.
§ Lord BalnielHer Majesty's Government will continue to observe the provisions of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (Cmnd. 3683).
§ Mr. Woofasked the Minister of State for Defence whether, following the proposed transfer of the nuclear weapons research establishment at Aldermaston to his Department, he envisages its use for European nuclear weapons research, with West German participation therein.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourNo.