§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy towards the reciprocated withdrawal of all sub-strategic nuclear weapons from the arsenals of NATO and Russia.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe alliance's strategic concept published in November 1991 makes clear that NATO continues to require sub-strategic nuclear forces, albeit at a significantly reduced level, as an essential link between conventional and strategic nuclear forces.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the planned Trident deployment is capable of accommodating both the United Kingdom's entire sub-strategic and strategic nuclear force requirements;
(2) if United Kingdom Trident submarines are capable of deploying missiles that are assigned a sub-strategic role alongside missiles that are assigned a strategic role, within the same submarine;
(3) what is his Department's policy towards the development of a stand-off capability for the United Kingdom's air-launched sub-strategic nuclear weapons;
(4) what assessment his Department has made as to the cost savings that would result from the deployment of the United Kingdom's sub-strategic nuclear capability within the Trident force deployment.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonWe are continuing to study a range of possible options for our long-term sub-strategic nuclear capability, including the possible use of Trident in this role. An announcement will be made at the appropriate time.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment of the implications of the collapse of the Warsaw treaty organisation for the operational effectiveness of the United Kingdom's air-launched sub-strategic nuclear force.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe United Kingdom's force of dual-capable aircraft remains fully capable of carrying out its sub-strategic nuclear role.