§ Mr. Bennasked the Prime Minister (1) whether the arrangements now in force governing the stationing of United States nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom provide for the explicit agreement of the British Government before such weapons can be used; and, in the absence of such an agreement, whether there is an effective British veto on their use;
(2) whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government that the arrangements to be entered into with the United States Government, in relation to the proposed siting of United States cruise missiles with nuclear warheads in the United Kingdom, shall include a provision that explicit British Government approval will be obtained before such weapons can be used and an effective British veto on their use in the absence of such an agreement.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) on 20 December.