asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will explain the relationship between Cmnd. 9336 (1984) and the purchase of Trident from the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

The mutual defence agreement covers many aspects of co-operation in the uses of atomic energy for defence purposes, including the exchange of information, materials and equipment. The United Kingdom is acquiring the Trident II weapons system under the provisions of the Polaris sales agreement, as set out in Cmnd. 8821 of 19 October 1982.