§ 73. Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of article 1 of the non-proliferation treaty for the proposed acquisition, including design, of the Trident missile system from the United States of America.
§ Mr. LuceWe are satisfied that the acquisition of the Trident missile system is consistent with article I of the non-proliferation treaty. As the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the then right hon. Member for Sheffield, Park, (Mr. Mulley) told the House on 8 July 1968, at column 37, article 1 does
Not deal with the transfer of nuclear delivery vehicles, provided that there was no transfer of nuclear weapons or control over them".