Nuclear Deterrent

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Defence – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 21 February 2000.

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Photo of Geoff Hoon Geoff Hoon Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence 12:00, 21 February 2000

The hon. Gentleman is getting ever more desperate as he tries to find some substance for his questions. Let us deal with Menwith Hill. It is the European relay ground system of the United States space-based infra-red system, designed to detect the launch of ballistic missiles. It is regarded by the United States as necessary, irrespective of any decision on a national missile defence programme. The hon. Gentleman would do well not to keep referring to Menwith Hill, because it does not make his case, whatever it is—although the more I listen to him, the harder it is to detect what his argument is about.