HC Deb 10 July 1979 vol 970 cc169-70W
34. Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is satisfied that the threat to the United Kingdom and the rest of Western Europe posed by Soviet medium rang nuclear missiles Interceptor SS20 will not be increased by the SALT II treaty signed by the United States of America and the USSR; and what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to President Carter on this subject.

Mr. Hurd

The Government are satisfied that the essential security interests of the United Kingdom and the Alliance are safeguarded under the SALT II agreement. We are now considering with our NATO allies what steps are required in terms of force modernisation and arms control to protect the interests of the Alliance in the face of the Warsaw Pact's build-up of SS20 and other nuclear delivery systems of particular concern to Western Europe.