§ Mr. MacFarquharasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify the relative proportions of those nuclear weapons in store for use by the Royal Air Force which are equipped with 645W modern electronic safety catches and insensitive high explosive triggers, and those which are not; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MulleyI have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on this subject on 13th April 1978.
§ Mr. MacFarquharasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) further to his reply to the hon. Member for Belper on 12th April, whether, in establishing his satisfaction with the effectiveness of the system of security at bases where nuclear weapons are stored, he contacted the United States Secretary of Defence; and what reply he received.
(2) further to his reply to the hon. Member for Belper on 12th April, whether, in establishing his satisfaction with the design and handling arrangements for nuclear weapons stored in the United Kingdom, he contacted the United States Secretary of Defence; and what reply he received.
§ Mr. MulleyI am in regular and frequent contact with my United States opposite number about matters of our
1st April 1976 1st April 1977 1st April 1978 Her Majesty's Naval Base, Rosyth … … 8,417 8,270 8,135 HMS "Caledonia" … … … … 170 173 171 Royal Naval Store Depot, Lathalmond … 150 146 142 Royal Naval Armament Depot, Crombie … 432 433 419 There are also a relatively small number of staff of other Government Departments employed in these establishments.