§ Mr. Cohenasked the Prime Minister if, pursuant to her statement of 12 November, Official Report, column 24, she will publish details of information available to her of cases where nuclear blackmail has been used successfully against a non-nuclear country.
§ The Prime MinisterThe purpose of NATO's forces is to deter a potential aggressor from threatening or launching an attack. NATO's deterrence strategy of86W flexible response, in which nuclear weapons play a key role, has contributed crucially to the long period of peace with freedom which we continue to enjoy in western Europe.
§ Mr. Cohenasked the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards a threat to use United Kingdom nuclear weapons or the United Kingdom nuclear deterrent against a non-nuclear country.
§ The Prime MinisterThe United Kingdom threatens no one. The purpose of British defence policy is to deter aggression or the threat of aggression against us.
§ Mr. Cohenasked the Prime Minister if she will provide details of discussions between the United Kingdom and the United States Governments prior to the Reykjavik summit regarding the extent to which (a) nuclear weapons based in Britain and (b) the United Kingdom nuclear deterrent would be bargaining factors in the negotiations; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterWe have remained in close contact with the United States Administration about the Geneva nuclear and space talks both before and since the meeting in Reykjavik. I had an opportunity to have a full discussion of all these issues with President Reagan on 15 November.