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Cruise And Trident Missiles: Control

Volume 445: debated on Wednesday 7 December 1983

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asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there is any connection between their unwillingness to seek a dual key arrangement on the United States cruise missiles to be deployed here (without purchasing them), and the willingness of the United States Government to sell them Trident missiles without a dual key arrangement.

No. The arrangements for joint decision on any use of United States ground-launched cruise missiles based in the United Kingdom in accordance with the NATO decision of December 1979, and the willingness of the United States to supply the United Kingdom with submarine launched ballistic missiles, equipment and supporting services on the basis of the agreement of July 1980 are quite separate. Both arrangements, however, reflect the close co-operation between the United States and the United Kingdom in defence of the Western Alliance.