§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any representations have been made since 1980 to the United States Government, directly or through the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, seeking to ensure the provision by the United States of America of a nuclear capability for the FH-70 and SP-70 howitzers being developed jointly by the United Kingdom, Italy and the Federal Republic of Germany.
§ Mr. ButlerAs I have told the hon. Member previously, the FH-70 has no nuclear role and is not intended to be a nuclear delivery system. The SP-70 is intended to be compatible with all 155mm artillery rounds in use in NATO, including the nuclear artillery round currently made available to British forces by the United States. Technical discussions with United States Government representatives have taken place accordingly.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the new self-propelled howitzer, the SP-70, will have a nuclear capability.
§ Mr. ButlerYes.