§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Prime Minister why, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith), Official Report, 18 April, column 525, on plutonium use, Her Majesty's Government's policy in answering such questions has altered since 4 February 1983.
§ The Prime Minister[pursuant to the answer, 6 May 1986, c. 3]: It is the convention that Ministers are answerable in Parliament only for matters falling within the period of responsibility of the Administration of which they are members.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Prime Minister if she will describe the role of each Department concerned in the United Kingdom nuclear weapons programme.
§ The Prime Minister[pursuant to the answer, 6 May 1986, c. 3]: The Ministry of Defence is concerned with the research and development, procurement, production, deployment, safety and maintenance of nuclear weapons. The Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are jointly responsible for the nuclear element of British defence policy. Additionally, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in consultation with the Ministry of Defence, is responsible for arms control issues, including those concerning nuclear weapons. Other Departments are indirectly involved in the course of fulfilling their normal administrative functions.