§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are giving their support to the United States of America in strategic arms reduction talks for negotiating, in the words of Secretary of Defence Cheney, "a co-operative transition to a more balanced deterrent, one based on a mixture of offence and defence" (i.e., including anti-ballistic missile systems); whether the US Administration has offered control over such systems to its NATO allies, Israel, and other parties; and if so, what is the Government's response to these developments.
§ Lord ReayWe and our NATO allies fully support the efforts of the US and Soviet Governments to bring their negotiations aimed at substantial strategic arms reductions to a successful conclusion. It is premature to speculate on the possible future deployment of ABM defences: research into such defences has not yet reached the stage where we can consider the implications for Allied defence policies.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they support the US Administration's announced preference for "both sides (increasing) their reliance on defence"; that is, on anti-ballistic missiles.
§ Lord ReayWe believe that, in view of Soviet activities, it is only prudent that the US SDI research programme should go ahead. As my right honourable friend the Prime Minister agreed with President Reagan at Camp David in 1984, the overall aim is to enhance deterrence.