§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the implications for defence strategy of emerging technology weapons and techniques; whether they are applicable for use on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation front line as replacement for resort to nuclear weapons; and what is their relevance to the development of policy on use of nuclear weapons.
§ Mr. LeeThe sensible application of emerging technology offers the potential for strengthening NATO's conventional forces within NATO's strategy of flexible response. It does not provide a substitute for the essential role that nuclear weapons play in that deterrent strategy. I refer the hon. Member to tile essay on new technology, new tactics in SDE 1983, which sets out our approach more fully.