Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether Her Majesty's Government were consulted before the inclusion in the intermediate nuclear forces treaty of the clause permitting the re-use and repackaging of fissile material and components from the warheads of Pershing II and ground-launched cruise missiles;
(2) whether he had been consulted or has any knowledge of the United States Government's intention to use fissile material and components from the warheads of Pershing II and ground-launched cruise missiles withdrawn under the terms of the intermediate nuclear forces treaty for use in other nuclear weapons intended for European deployment.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe Government were fully consulted by the United States Government throughout the negotiation of the INF treaty, which is specific to the elimination of missiles, launchers, support equipment and facilities. It contains no express provision governing the future use of fissile materials. The warheads for the Pershing II and GLCM missiles to be withdrawn under the INF agreement are, like the missiles themselves, wholly the property of the United States Government and the use of the nuclear material they contain will be entirely a matter for the United States Government.