§ Lord Brockwayasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their attitude to the statement of the United States Secretary of State that the Reagan Administration would very probably wish to use the neutron bomb; and whether they will oppose its use in discussions with the United States Government and within NATO.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Viscount Trenchard)The deployment in Europe of enhanced radiation weapons is clearly one of many possibilities that the new United States Administration may wish to consider, but we have not been asked to look at any new proposal. The United States Defense Secretary said at the press conference to which the noble Lord referred that the allies would be fully consulted before any decision. We should wish to look at all the factors, military and political, and discuss them with the United States and our other allies before taking a view on any specific proposals.