§ 39. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the increase in United States nuclear-carrying aircraft based in Great Britain is associated with the Government's first strike policy; and whether this conforms with Government policy on United States Polaris bases.
§ Mr. MulleyThe US F111F tactical fighter bomber aircraft now being deployed to this country replace older F-4 Phantom aircraft which were deployed in a similar rôle. These aircraft and the US nuclear submarines based at Holy Loch each make important contributions to the deterrent forces of the Alliance. The Government's agreement to the stationing of these aircraft in Britain represents no change in their policy towards NATO's nuclear deterrent, which was set out in Chapter I of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1976 (Cmnd. 6432).