§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what public statements he made prior to 22 October on the long range stand-off missile.
§ Mr. ButlerI refer the hon. Member to the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1983" in the essay "New Technology, New Tactics"; and to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the debate on the Royal Air Force in February this year.
§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether a projection has been agreed for the number of cruise missiles to be procured under the long range stand off missile programme in (a) the memorandum of understanding with the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States of America and (b) the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation staff target for the long range standoff missile.
§ Mr. ButlerNumbers of missiles are not stated in either document.
§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the anticipated minimum and maximum procurement figures for the long range stand-off missile for (a) the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and (b) the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. ButlerIt is too early in the procurement cycle for estimates of numbers of missiles to be made.
§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the ground-launched version of the long range stand-off missile will be considered for use by the British Army of the Rhine.
§ Mr. ButlerNo requirement has been established for a ground-launched version of such a missile.
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§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the projected initial operating capacity date for the long range stand-off missile.
§ Mr. ButlerNo projected date can yet be given, but it is envisaged that, if a joint development and production programme follows on from the collaborative feasibility studies, this could result in a missile entering service in the early 1990s.
§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Defence in what year Britain will begin expenditure on research and development for the long range stand-off missile.
§ Mr. ButlerSome expenditure has already been incurred on the studies being carried out on a national basis, to which I referred in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 20 November 1984, at column83. Expenditure on the feasibility studies under the collaborative memorandum of understanding will begin in 1985–86.
§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation staff target for the long range stand-off missile includes options for either chemical or nuclear warheads or both;
(2) whether the memorandum of understanding between the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States of America explicitly precludes either a chemical or nuclear option for the long range stand-off missile.
§ Mr. ButlerThe NATO staff target does not include options for chemical or nuclear warheads. Studies under the memorandum of understanding are explicitly related to assessing the feasibility of developing and producing a conventional weapon to meet the NATO staff target.