HC Deb 10 May 1976 vol 911 cc63-5W
Mr. Arthur Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the development of a nuclear weapon against submarines;

(2) what study has been made of the environmental consequences of the nuclear depth bomb;

(3) whether the initial development of the nuclear depth bomb took place in the United Kingdom; or whether the weapon was obtained from abroad;

(4) how many nuclear depth bombs are to be manufactured;

(5) what is the unit production cost of the nuclear depth bomb and the total system cost of its inclusion in Great Britain's defence programme.

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many nuclear weapons for use against submarines have been ordered;

(2) what is the cost to the United Kingdom of the development and production of nuclear weapons for use against submarines;

(3) whether any study has been made on the environmental affects, including pollution of the sea, of the use of nuclear weapons against submarines;

(4) whether the United Kingdom has undertaken the development and manufacture of a nuclear weapon which is designed for use against submarines;

(5) whether he will make a statement on the development of nuclear weapons against submarines.

Mr. Robin F. Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether a nuclear depth charge is entering service with NATO;

(2) whether nuclear depth charges are manufactured in Great Britain;

(3) if he is satisfied that the ecological damage of nuclear depth charges has been adequately studied;

(4) how many nuclear depth charges are now in service with the Royal Navy;

(5) what expenditure has been incurred on nuclear depth charges;

(6) if he is satisfied that the procedures for identifying British submarines are adequate to protect them from being attacked with nuclear depth charges.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether nuclear depth charges have entered service with NATO;

(2) whether Great Britain is manufacturing nuclear depth charges;

(3) whether lie is satisfied that the ecological damage of nuclear depth charges has been adequately studied;

(4) how many nuclear depth charges are now in service with the Royal Navy;

(5) what expenditure has been incurred on nuclear depth charges.

Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many nuclear depth bombs NATO intends to construct;

(2) if he will make a statement on the development of nuclear weapons against submarines;

(3) what study has been made of the nuclear pollution of the sea and fish likely to be caused by nuclear depth bombs; and also of their effect on the sea bed and the possibilities of their causing a tidal wave;

(4) what was the research and development cost of the nuclear depth bomb.

Mr. Mason

Nuclear weapons, including nuclear depth bombs for antisubmarine warfare, have been available to NATO for many years. These weapons were developed and manufactured by the United States of America and by the United Kingdom; and some are available to be deployed by the British Armed Forces in support of the NATO strategy of deterrence. Their purpose is to deter aggression and help to maintain peace. In all NATO planning for the possible defensive use of nuclear weapons, considerations of collateral and environmental damage are, of course, taken into account. I am satisfied with the procedures for the safety of our own forces should nuclear weapons have to be used. For obvious reasons I cannot disclose details of numbers, costs, technical characteristics or deployment. The Soviet Union also deploys nuclear depth bombs with its forces.