Submarine-launched Cruise Missiles (Hansard, 21 March 1990)

§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any studies by SACEUR are under way to examine the role of United States Navy submarine-launched cruise missiles as a part of the NATO theatre nuclear forces.

§ Mr. Neubert
As part of the post-INF restructuring of nuclear forces, SACEUR is looking at the availability of a whole spectrum of nuclear weapons, including submarine-launched cruise missiles.

§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any United States Navy Tomahawk submarine-launched cruise missiles are assigned to the NATO command (i) in peacetime and (ii) in war.

§ Mr. Neubert
The assignment of United States forces is a matter for the United States Government.

§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning progress by the NATO military authorities in developing concepts of military operations for the employment of United States Tomahawk submarine-launched cruise missiles.

§ Mr. Neubert
While it is not our practice to comment in detail on NATO's classified concepts of operations, I can confirm that the NATO military authorities are considering the availability of submarine-launched cruise missiles as part of NATO's post-INF restructuring process.

§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if United States submarine-launched cruise missiles are currently included in the NATO operational plan for the employment of nuclear weapons.

§ Mr. Neubert
It is not our practice to comment on classified NATO operational plans.