Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the deployment of nuclear weapons on board 375W Royal Navy ships was discussed in any of his communications with the Maltese Government prior to the visit to Malta of a Royal Navy detachment in June; (2) whether any undertakings were given to the Maltese Government regarding the deployment of nuclear weapons on board Royal Navy vessels prior to the visit to Malta of a Royal Navy detachment in June.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonIt has been the invariable policy of successive British Governments neither to confirm nor to deny the presence of nuclear weapons in individual HM ships and no undertakings on this matter were given to the Maltese Government.