HC Deb 29 February 1988 vol 128 cc417-8W
Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the current discussions on the possible development of a stand-off nuclear missile envisage the use of existing warheads; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sainsbury

Any weapon system acquired by the United Kingdom as a successor to the free fall bombs which currently provide our independent sub-strategic nuclear capability, would be armed with a new British nuclear warhead. However, no decisions on this have yet been taken.

Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the current discussions on the possible development of a nuclear stand-off missile flow from the Montebello decisions on the modernisation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's nuclear inventory; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ian Stewart

The development of a tactical air to surface missile for NATO's aircraft was among the measures recommended by SACEUR in his 1985 proposals for implementing the Montebello decision.