Nuclear Weapons (Hansard, 3 June 1991)

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department defines(a) a sub-strategic nuclear weapon and (b) a tactical nuclear weapon.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The MOD would understand both terms to refer to those weapons which provide the link between conventional forces and strategic nuclear forces in the spectrum of deterrence.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the types of currently deployed NATO land-based short-range nuclear weapons that have an operational service life that extends beyond the mid-1990s.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The United Kingdom's ground-launched short-range nuclear systems currently comprise Lance and nuclear-capable artillery. Only the artillery (capable of firing nuclear warheads supplied by the United States) will have an operational life that extends beyond the mid-1990s. Questions relating to the nuclear systems of our NATO allies are a matter for their Governments.