§ 28. Mr. Flanneryasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received regarding the methods of transportation throughout the United Kingdom of nuclear warheads and nuclear missiles; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StanleyIn 1986 and so far this year my Department has received about 60 letters from right hon. and hon. Members and directly from members of the public concerned with various aspects of this issue.
§ 37. Mr. Loydenasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the practices and regulations governing the movement of any convoys in which nuclear weapons may be involved.
§ Mr. StanleyIt has been the practice of successive Governments, for security reasons, not to comment on the methods of transporting nuclear weapons. However, the arrangements for ensuring their safe transport remain constantly under review.
§ 39. Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in the light of the incident in Wiltshire on 10 January in which a military convoy crashed, Her Majesty's Government intend to review their procedures concerning the road transport of nuclear weapons.
§ Mr. StanleyI refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes) earlier today.
§ 41. Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now make it his practice to give the numbers of nuclear weapon convoys which travel (a) by road, (b) by rail and (c) by other forms of transport.
§ Mr. StanleyNo.