§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What, in relation to the United States production of "binary" chemical weapons, are the implications for the UK, of the UK "supporting" the relevant "defence goal" in NATO in the light of Lord Trefgarne's statement that "We shall be supporting that defence goal" (Lords Hansard, 19th May 1986, col. 5).
§ Lord TrefgarneAs I make clear to the noble Lord on 22nd October (col. 423), the United Kingdom has entered into no commitment with regard to binary chemical weapons. However, we believe that United States moves to modernise their limited chemical weapons capability, to which the force goal in question relates, will underline to the Soviet Union the benefits of reaching early agreement on a comprehensive and verifiable ban on all aspects of chemical warfare and, should this not be achieved, contribute to maintaining NATO's deterrent strategy of flexible response.