NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN FALKLANDS/SOUTH ATLANTIC?
30. In accordance with long-standing British practice, we neither confirm nor deny the presence or absence of nuclear weapons in any location at any particular time.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS LOST WITH HMS "SHEFFIELD"?
31. I can state that there has never been any incident involving a British nuclear weapon leading to its loss or to the dispersal of radioactive contamination.
OBLIGATIONS UNDER TREATY OF TLATELOLCO
32.
The British Government have at all times complied, and will continue to comply, with their obligation not to introduce nuclear weapons into the territory or territorial waters for which they are internationally responsible within the Treaty's zone of application.
TOTAL COST OF FALKLANDS OPERATION
33. I would refer (the hon Member) (my hon Friend) to the reply given by my hon Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces to the hon Member for Salford East on the 28th of October. (The extra cost to the defence budget of the operation to re-possess the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Southern Thule, including the maintenance of our forces up to the end of September and the replacement of lost equipment and replenishment of stocks is estimated at about £700 million this year with a further £900 million spread over the next three years with some smaller sums thereafter. Costs from the South Atlantic campaign will be met from funds additional to those required for the three per cent annual real growth rate in defence spending.)
ARE ISLANDS WORTH THE EXPENDITURE?
34. Vital principles are at stake: it would be wrong to try to put a cash value on them. There was wide public and international support for the effort and sacrifice needed to uphold those principles and re-possess the Falklands. We are firmly committed to ensuring a secure future for the Islanders. We will provide protection and help the Islanders to re-establish their lives and develop their economy.
MINE CLEARANCE
35. The Ministry of Defence are making all possible efforts to produce or develop the right equipment. Those mined areas which have not yet been cleared have been fenced off and clearly marked. The Government will continue to attach a very high priority to this blight, which, despite all efforts, is likely to persist for many years.