HC Deb 30 April 1957 vol 569 cc26-8
48. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Prime Minister how far it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to support the banning of nuclear weapon production by international agreement without waiting for a general disarmament agreement.

The Prime Minister

As has often been explained with the general approval of statesmen of all political parties, complete disarmament in the unconventional field without a corresponding measure of conventional disarmament would leave the free world at the mercy of the Communist world. There are, however, a number of plans now before the Disarmament Sub-Committee, including the Anglo-French plan of 1956, which would in our opinion provide a satisfactory solution to this problem.

The latest United States proposals also have the support of Her Majesty's Government provided that they are related to a measure of conventional disarmament.

Mr. Henderson

May we have an assurance that the Government will not allow the forthcoming nuclear tests to stand in the way of an early agreement on nuclear disarmament, if that can be achieved during the present disarmament discussions?

The Prime Minister

If a satisfactory agreement can be reached, of course we shall be very glad to get that result. That is what we have been aiming at, and we are still working for it.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

The Prime Minister speaks of the Anglo-French disarmament plan of 1956. Will he tell the House what practical measures of disarmament are put forward in what is really a complicated statement of procedure?

The Prime Minister

I do not think I shall be expected to give a full account of a very long proposal without notice, or at least without the opportunity to try to make a reasonably short summary of it.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Will the Prime Minister examine it to see whether there are any practical measures of disarmament put forward at all?

The Prime Minister

If the right hon. Gentleman will put down a Question, I will do my best to answer it.

Mr. E. Fletcher

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what importance he attaches to the recent prolonged series of hydrogen-bomb tests carried out by Soviet Russia? Does he take the view that they are calculated to do the maximum amount of genetic harm, and so forth, or does he think that the Russian scientists have a totally different view from the British scientists about the effect of these tests?

The Prime Minister

Without wishing to evade any question or avoid it, I should like a question of that scientific character to be put on the Order Paper. I do not pose as an expert in these matters. I do my best to answer questions on the advice of my advisers and I shall be happy to try to answer that question, if it is put down on the Order Paper.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

In the Defence White Paper there are already some measures which can only be described as unilateral disarmament. Is the Prime Minister aware that the only hope for this country and the world is for someone to begin unilaterally to cut a way through these conventional and unconventional weapons? Would not the right hon. Gentleman give a lead?

The Prime Minister

To the extent to which we have already given a lead we shall, I have no doubt, have the support of the hon. Gentleman.