HC Deb 25 April 1978 vol 948 cc508-9W
13. Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to have discussions with his NATO counterparts about posible future deployment in Europe of the neutron bomb.

Mr. Mulley

I have no plans to discuss this issue at present.

20. Mr. Litterick

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated destructive blast radius of the neutron bomb; and what is the estimated radius of its lethal radiation effect.

Mr. Mulley

As my hon. Friend is aware, President Carter has decided to defer production of this warhead. The warhead does not exist; any information as to its characteristics is therefore hypothetical.

Comparatively speaking, however, an enhanced radiation warhead would produce the same lethal radiation effect as existing short-range nuclear weapons, but less effects from heat, blast and fall-out. This means that the total radius of destruction would be considerably reduced.

24. Mr. Aitken

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the neutron bomb.

Mr. Mulley

We support President Carter's decision to defer production of the enhanced radiation warhead for deployment in Europe. The decision rightly sets the matter in the context of arms control and the balance of forces on both sides. We now look to the Soviet Union to respond to this move with measures which will moderate the threat we see from its build-up of nuclear and conventional forces.

28. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the estimated cost of developing the neutron bomb by the United Kingdom alone.

Mr. Mulley

I am unable to assist my hon. Friend. As we have no plans to develop such a weapon ourselves, I am unable to provide any such estimate.

43. Mr. Thorne

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement regarding his plans for the development and storing of the neutron bomb.

Mr. Mulley

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Thanet, East (Mr. Aitken) earlier today.