Nuclear Weapons

HC Deb 26 February 1985 vol 74 cc151-2W

26. Mr. Terry Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of nuclear artillery in British Army tactical planning.

51. Mr. James Lamond

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement of the role of nuclear artillery in British Army tactical planning.

Mr. Stanley

I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn).

32. Mr. Allan Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the condition of the United Kingdom's current stockpile of battlefield nuclear weapons.

Mr. Stanley

The nuclear warheads for the battlefield nuclear capable weapons systems operated by the British Army in the Federal Republic of Germany are owned by the United States, which is responsible for their custody and maintenance.

43. Mrs. Beckett

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department will be reviewing current strategy on battlefield nuclear weapons.

Mr. Stanley

The role of battlefield nuclear weapons within NATO's strategy of deterrence and flexible response is kept under continuous review by NATO Ministers in the nuclear planning group.

46. Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the condition of the Royal Navy's stockpile of tactical nuclear weapons.

Mr. Stanley

A continuing programme for the withdrawal and dismantling of rounds from service for examination has confirmed the safety and serviceability of the Royal Navy's stockpile of tactical nuclear weapons.

48. Mr. Michie

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the modernisation of Britain's tactical nuclear weapons.

Mr. Lee

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Central (Mr. McTaggart) and Houghton and Washington (Mr. Boyes).

54. Mr. Barron

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the acquisition by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces of new nuclear artillery shells.

Mr. Lee

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Wigan (Mr. Stott), for Preston (Mr. Thorne) and for Sunderland, North (Mr. Clay).