Nuclear Weapons (Hansard, 3 February 1988)

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the implementation of decisions or recommendations taken at Montebello in November 1983 or Luxembourg in March 1985 by the NATO planning group will lead to an increase in(a) the number of nuclear warheads available for use by NATO from western 666W Europe, (b) the total nuclear fire power of NATO available for use from locations in western Europe, (c) the number of air-launched or sea-launched or similar nuclear weapons available for use from western Europe, to a level in excess of that available (i) before and (ii) after implementation of the intermediate nuclear forces agreement 1987;
(2) whether the implementations of improvements submitted by SACEUR and approved for implementation at th nuclear planning group meetings in 1985 will lead to any increase in the number of air or sea-launched missiles deployed in western Europe, including the United Kingdom, to a level greater than that which existed prior to the recent intermediate nuclear forces agreement;
(3) whether he will make a statement as to the effect of the Montebello 1983 NATO planning group's recommendation and decisions on the modernisation of nuclear weapons on the present numbers of nuclear weapons deployed.

§ Mr. Ian Stewart
At their meeting in Montebello in 1983, NATO Defence Ministers agreed both to a reduction by 1,400 warheads of the Alliance's land-based nuclear stockpile in Europe and on the need for possible 667W improvements to ensure the continuing effectiveness, responsiveness and survivability of remaining systems. SACEUR's detailed proposals for implementing the Montebello decision, which he submitted to the nuclear planning group in 1985, are confidential. The INF agreement, when implemented, will lead to a further reduction in the stockpile.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what reductions and increases in nuclear deployment in the report of the NATO high level group were approved by NATO Ministers prior to the publication of the 1984 Defence Estimates;
(2) which proposals from the NATO high level group were endorsed at the Montebello NATO planning group conference in 1983.

§ Mr. Ian Stewart
I refer the hon. Member to the communiqué issued following the ministerial meeting of the nuclear planning group at Montebello in 1983, a copy of which is in the Library.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all the decisions and recommendations taken at the 1983 Montebello NATO planning group conference, as they affect the United Kingdom, were known to all the parties during the course of the recent intermediate nuclear forces negotiations, which led to an agreement on a reduction in nuclear weapons.

§ Mr. Ian Stewart
The proceedings of NATO's nuclear planning group are confidential. However, a very full official communiqué was issued at the end of the ministerial meeting of the group at Montebello in 1983. I assume the contents of this were known to the parties involved in the INF negotiations.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will name those British officials who are members of the NATO nuclear high level planning group.

§ Mr. Ian Stewart
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Mr. Stanley) to the hon. Members for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) and for Merionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Thomas) on 8 May 1987 at column556. It is not our practice to name individual officials involved in specific activities of this kind.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recommendations or decisions taken by the Montebello NATO planning group conference he does not intend to implement in relation to the modernisation of nuclear weapons.

§ Mr. Ian Stewart
SACEUR's recommendations for implementing the agreement by NATO Defence Ministers at Montebello in 1983 to a reduction in the Alliance's land-based nuclear stockpile in Europe and on the need for improvements in its effectiveness were submitted to the meeting of the nuclear planning group in Luxembourg in 1985. As regards the modernisation recommendations addressed to the United Kingdom, no decisions have been taken.