§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the proposed modernisation of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation European-based nuclear weapons will change the total number of such weapons, the total number of warheads and the total fire-power available to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
§ Mr. BlakerAt the time of the December 1979 decision to modernise NATO's longer range theatre nuclear forces it was made clear that, as the new Pershing II and Cruise missiles are deployed from 1983 onwards, existing warheads will be withdrawn on a one-for-one basis. In addition, as an integral part of the NATO decision, the United States has already completed the removal of a further 1,000 warheads. The net result of the modernisation programme will therefore be a reduction of 1,000 warheads from the NATO theatre nuclear stockpile in Europe.