Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on representations made by the Belgian Defence Minister on future North Atlantic Treaty Organisation deployments of nuclear weapons at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation nuclear planning group meeting in Scheveningen on 27 October.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonAt the nuclear planning group meeting on 27–28 October, Ministers reaffirmed the essential contribution made by nuclear weapons to 185W NATO's strategy of deterrence and underlined their determination to take those actions required to keep the Alliance's forces, nuclear and conventional, up to date where necessary. While no decisions were taken or required at the meeting, Ministers noted the progress being made and agreed to continue a step by step approach to the work in hand. A copy of the communiqué issued after the meeting, and agreed by all Ministers, has been placed in the Library of the House.