1 Earl of Onslow debates involving the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Nuclear Posture Review

Earl of Onslow Excerpts
Monday 28th June 2010

(14 years, 5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord Howell of Guildford Portrait Lord Howell of Guildford
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Those are very wise and practical words from my noble friend Lord Marlesford.

Earl of Onslow Portrait The Earl of Onslow
- Hansard - -

My Lords, is it not also reasonable to assume that had neither India nor Pakistan had nuclear weapons within the past 10 years, it is probable that they would have gone to war? Because they had nuclear weapons, they thought it would be a silly idea and so did not.

Lord Howell of Guildford Portrait Lord Howell of Guildford
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My noble friend is quite right. That could be a good example of the theory of mutual deterrence working. Perhaps, if we look back over the history of the past 50 years, it has worked.