HL Deb 07 June 1988 vol 497 cc1398-400WA
Lord Jenkins of Putney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they can contrast the predictable effect of free fall nuclear bombs carried by Tornado Aircraft with that dropped at Hiroshima, and give the figures and the number of killed and injured in the bombing of Hiroshima.

The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Lord Trefgarne)

For reasons of national security it has been the policy of successive governments not to release information on the effectiveness of nuclear weapons. The population of Hiroshima (245,000 people) suffered 50,000 deaths, 65,000 injuries and 18,000 people were unaccounted for.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will contrast the projected effect of nuclear missiles proposed for Tornado aircraft with that of the nuclear bombs at present carried and estimate the number of casualties should such a missile be dropped on Hiroshima or a similar city.

Lord Trefgarne

For reasons of national security it has been the policy of successive governments not to release information on the effectiveness of nuclear weapons. The population of Hiroshima (245,000) suffered 50,000 deaths, 65,000 injuries and 18,000 people were unaccounted for.