Nuclear Weapons

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 3 December 1986.

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Photo of Mr Timothy Renton Mr Timothy Renton , Mid Sussex 12:00, 3 December 1986

I must tell the hon. Gentleman that the Foreign Minister of the German Democratic Republic, Mr. Fischer, who was with us last week, did not once mention a nuclear-free corridor. The reason is that such corridors only give the illusion of security. Where the weapons are targeted matters far more than where they are based. The hon. Gentleman represents part of the city of Sheffield, which has declared itself a nuclear weapon-free zone. I suggest to the hon. Gentleman that, rather than spend £250,000 a year on a peace budget and £500 on a CND balloon on nuclear free-zone day, the hard-pressed residents of Sheffield would prefer a reduction in their rates.