§ 45. Mr. Warbeyasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is now in a position to state the policy of the Government in regard to the Euratom proposals and the report of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation Working Party on Nuclear Energy.
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)Discussions on this subject are taking place this week at the Ministerial meeting of the Council of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation in Paris, and I cannot at present add anything to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's Answer to the Question by the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. de Freitas) on 15th February.
§ Mr. WarbeyThe right hon. Gentleman seems to be a little behind the times, because there was much more information on the tape this morning than he has given the House this afternoon. Will he say if it has been agreed to remit all the various atomic co-operation proposals for further discussions by the Governments concerned during the period of three months? Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that, and also give an assurance that during this three months' consideration the Government will undertake to consider carefully the advantages from a political, economic and security point of view of possible British association in the tighter form of control envisaged in the Euratom proposals?
§ Mr. ButlerHaving had four years' experience of O.E.E.C., I know what has been happening there. I have read the report of Professor Nicolaides, which bears out the general tenor of the remarks of the hon. Gentleman. I would suggest that as this matter was discussed yesterday, and I believe this morning also, by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer with the European representatives, the hon. Gentleman had better wait until my right hon. Friend comes back in order to get the latest answer.