§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
In which category of nuclear weapons—strategic, intermediate-range or battlefield—they place Soviet ship- and submarine-launched cruise and other missiles carrying nuclear warheads; and why, in the FCO/Ministry of Defence leaflets on Defence and Disarmament Issues Nos. 4 and 5, weapons systems of this type are excluded.
§ Lord TrefgarneUS and Soviet ballistics missiles deployed on modern nuclear submarines are regarded790WA as strategic and have thus been included in both SALT and START negotiations. Soviet missiles in this category are therefore included in Defence and Disarmament Issue Leaflet No. 5. The INF negotiations are at present primarily concerned with medium-range land based missiles and aircraft. Many Soviet submarines and ships are fitted with tactical missiles with ranges of well below 1000km which fit neither of these categories. They are primarily for use against other ships and submarines and, like nuclear-capable aircraft on US carriers which have a maritime role, have not so far been categorised in arms control negotiations. They are therefore excluded from the Defence and Disarmament Issue Leaflet No. 4, which considers only those INF systems under discussion in Geneva.