HC Deb 17 February 1983 vol 37 cc238-9W
Dr. Owen

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the event of deployment of cruise missiles in Great Britain, any Royal Air Force personnel accompanying a ground-launched cruise missile off the air base will operate under a separate chain of command from United States Air Force personnel; and whether the same procedures over launch and countdown will be in operation as was the case for the Thor missile.

Mr. Heseltine

The Thor system was owned and operated by the United Kingdom under a dual-key arrangement with the United States; the cruise missiles will be owned and operated by the United States under the arrangements for joint control agreed between the Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom and summarised in the communiqué issued in 1952 following the meeting between Mr. Churchill and President Truman.

A jointly manned force under British and United States commanders will accompany the missiles at all times.

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in full the bilateral agreement made in the 1950s between the United Kingdom and the United States of America regarding the use of United States nuclear arms in the United Kingdom and which would cover the use of cruise, if deployed.

Mr. Blaker

The existing arrangemants for the control of United States nuclear forces bases in the United Kingdom were agreed between Mr. Attlee and President Truman in 1951 and reaffirmed by Mr. Churchill and President Truman in 1952. The text of the communiqué recording the 1952 agreement isThe free countries of the world are resolved to unite their strength and purpose to ensure peace and security. We affirm the determination of our Governments and peoples to further their resolve, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. The strong ties which unite our two countries are a massive contribution to the building of the srength of the free world. Under arrangements made for the common defence, the United States has the use of certain bases in the United Kingdom. We reaffirm the understanding that the use of these bases in an emergency would be a matter for joint decision by Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government in the light of the circumstances at the time.