NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY (Hansard, 16 November 1982)

HL Deb 16 November 1982 vol 436 c518WA 518WA

§ Lord Beaumont of Whitley
asked Her Majesty's Government:
On what grounds they base their belief that a declaration renouncing the first use of nuclear weapons would not increase international security as stated in their Answer of 21st October 1982 (Hansard, col. 310).

§ Lord Belstead
A declaration renouncing the first use of nuclear weapons would imply a willingness to be the first to use other types of weapon and would remove a deterrent to attack by Soviet conventional forces. Moreover, the West could not rely upon the Soviet Union observing such a declaration.