Anti-Ballistic Missiles

Mr. Macdonald
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 June, Official Report, column 538, what is his Department's assessment of the number of countries that will have the capability to deploy anti-ballistic missiles by the year (a) 2000 and (b) 2010; and if he will list them.

Mr. Archie Hamilton
By the year 2000 and 2010, only Russia and the United States are likely to have the capability to deploy full anti-ballistic missile systems. In addition, a number of other countries could deploy anti-tactical ballistic missiles in the same time frame.