HC Deb 26 January 1979 vol 961 cc264-5W
Mr. Churchill

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will confirm that Her Majesty's Government have no objection of principle to the deployment in the United Kingdom of an American ballistic or cruise-missile system to counter the USSR's deployment of SS-20 nuclear missiles against Western Europe; and whether discussions have taken place between the British and United States Governments on this matter.

Mr. Mulley

NATO is studying the requirement for modernisation of the alliance's theatre nuclear forces as part of the NATO long term defence programme to maintain the credibility of the deterrent strategy. It is premature to consider the deployment of systems before firm proposals are available.