§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence how the United States decision to increase substantially its number of sea-launched cruise missiles will affect (a) Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation strategy, (b) nuclear and conventional balance between Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Warsaw Pact and (c) arms control negotiations.
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§ Mr. Stanley[pursuant to his reply, 11 June 1984, c. 359]: This decision will not affect NATO's strategy. Nor is it likely to affect the nuclear and conventional balance materially given the scale of the development of Soviet conventional and nuclear forces. The United States regards the nuclear sea-launched cruise missiles it plans to deploy as part of its strategic forces. It has indicated in the START negotiations its willingness to discuss limitations on all its strategic forces.