§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is their view that paragraph 63 of the NATO "Comprehensive Concept of Arms Control and Disarmament", where it reads: "The removal of the imbalance in conventional forces would provide scope for further reductions in the sub-strategic nuclear forces of members of the integrated military structure, though it would not obviate the need for such forces" is to be held to indicate a specific need for ground-based short-range nuclear missiles, as stated by the Prime Minister (Official Report, 6th June 1989, cols. 19–29), and, given the absence of such language, how it could be so held.
§ Lord GlenarthurYes, paragraph 45 of the comprehensive concept states that, "where nuclear forces are concerned, land-, sea-, and air-based systems, including ground-based missiles, in the present circumstances and as far as can be foreseen will be needed in Europe".