HC Deb 17 April 1957 vol 568 cc1908-9
15. Mr. P. Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will lay a White Paper containing the text of the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, together with a memorandum explaining the system of control to be operated by the Agency for the purpose of preventing the diversion of fissile materials to the manufacture of nuclear weapons.

Mr. Ian Harvey

A White Paper, Command 92, containing the full text of the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, was laid before the House on 19th March. The scope of the system of control is set out in some detail in Article XII of the Statute entitled "Agency Safeguards". The method of application of these safeguards will be for the Agency to work out by agreement between its members once it has been established. Article XII of the Statute, when read in conjunction with Article III, is self-explanatory and I do not think that there is much that we could usefully add in any covering memorandum at the present stage.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Since the control may be the only method of preventing every nation throughout the world from making nuclear weapons for itself, and since Article 12 is extremely obscure, does not the Joint Under-Secretary of State think that we might have a fuller explanation in order that we may understand what is intended?

Mr. Harvey

No, Sir, with great respect to the right hon. Gentleman, I think that this matter is well in hand. There is the I8-Power Preparatory Commission, of which the Government is a member, working on these proposals for control and, as I have said, if it is necessary to add further explanations we will do so.

16. Mr. P. Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when Her Majesty's Government will ratify the Statute establishing the International Atomic Energy Agency which was adopted in a United Nations Conference at New York on 23rd October, 1956.

Mr. Ian Harvey

I would refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) on 18th March.

Mr. Noel-Baker

May I ask the Joint Under-Secretary of State whether in the meantime any fissile material which we make available to other nations will be sent through the Agency?

Mr. Harvey

That is quite a different matter.