HC Deb 03 November 1986 vol 103 cc349-50W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the statement of the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Mr. Stanley) on 23 October, Official Report, column 1294, what discussions are to be held with the United Kingdom's North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies on the development of adequate procedures to verify possible reductions by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of the number of SS20s based in Europe.

Mr. Stanley

The United States continues to develop its negotiating position on intermediate range nuclear forces with its allies, principally through regular meetings in NATO of the special consultative group. The group has considered all issues relevant to an arms control agreement on intermediate range nuclear forces, including verification. It last met on 16 October.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he last discussed the issue of collateral constraints on short and medium range nuclear systems with official representatives of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Mr. Stanley

The question of collateral constraints on shorter-range systems has always been an element in the INF negotiations which are conducted between the United States, in consultation with her NATO allies, and the Soviet Union. The issue was also raised in a meeting between my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the Soviet ambassador on 23 July.

Mr. Boyes

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the effect on the security of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation of an arms control agreement on medium range nuclear missiles in Europe without reference to collateral restraints on short range nuclear missiles.

Mr. Stanley

NATO has always insisted that any agreement limiting long range intermediate nuclear force missiles should include appropriate constraints on Soviet shorter range nuclear force missiles to prevent circumvention of the provisions on longer range weapons. This remains the position.

Mr. Boyes

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the effects on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's strategy of flexible response of the removal of ground-launched cruise missiles from (a) the United Kingdom or (b) Western Europe.

Mr. Stanley

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 29 October 1986 at column199.

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