§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government.
Whether they would permit the Government of the United States to use nuclear weapons from bases in the United Kingdom as a deterrent to terrorists.
§ The Minister of State for Defence Support (Lord Trefgarne)The Government have made clear that, under long-standing arrangements, the use by US forces of bases in the UK in an emergency would be a matter for joint decision by the two governments in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time. It has also made clear that it is fanciful and ridiculous to contemplate the use of nuclear weapons in operations such as that recently conducted by the US against Libya.