§ 37. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reconsider the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom in the light of the degree of opposition in the United Kingdom, Belgium, France and West and East Germany; and whether, in this context, he has had any recent discussions with other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Defence Ministers.
§ Mr. BlakerNo. At the recent nuclear planning group meeting at Gleneagles, Alliance Ministers collectively reaffirmed the need for the cruise missile deployments in order to retain a credible NATO capability in this essential area of deterrent strategy against the background of the large scale deployments of new, mobile, longer range and more accurate Soviet theatre nuclear forces.
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§ Mr. Trippierasked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from supporters of nuclear disarmament regarding the deployment of cruise missiles within the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Peter BlakerI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) earlier today.