HL Deb 08 October 1981 vol 424 cc252-3WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether cruise or other missiles installed by the USA in NATO countries in accordance with NATO decision of December 1979 may be used by the USA only for the purposes agreed in and by NATO or whether such missiles (as for instance those to be installed in Sicily) might be used by the USA in a warlike exchange with Libya.

Viscount Trenchard

The cruise and Pershing II missiles to be deployed in Europe are designed to modernise NATO's long-range theatre nuclear forces in the face of the growing Soviet threat. They will be assigned to NATO and their use, should it ever prove necessary, would be in accordance with Alliance plans and consultation procedures.