§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the Palme commission proposal to negotiate a 150 km nuclear weapon free zone on either side of the inter-German border.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThis Government oppose the creation of a nuclear weapon free zone in Europe, which we believe would not increase but reduce security and stability. The territory of such a zone would still be under threat from weapons positioned outside the zone but targeted on it. Verification would be difficult, if not impossible, since the small size and mobility of many nuclear weapons means that they could be rapidly deployed back into the zone at a time of tension, thus increasing rather than reducing the risk of war. Such a zone would also undermine NATO's strategy of forward defence.