§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider it would be in the interests of the United Kingdom that the United States should unilaterally abandon the restrictions imposed upon it by the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile System (the ABM Treaty).
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyWe have seen no evidence that the United States is considering such a move. We believe that the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty continues to play an important role in maintaining the stability of the nuclear deterrence framework.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have (a) sought and (b) received assurances from the United States Administration that they would neither breach nor abrogate the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, on the maintenance which the effectiveness of the British Trident force depends, nor interpret it in any way that would put the effectiveness of that force at risk.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyWe maintain a close and confidential dialogue with the United States on ballistic missile defence and nuclear deterrence. We believe that the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty continues to play an important role in maintaining the stability of the nuclear deterrence framework.