§ 48. Mr. A. Robertsasked the Prime Minister what action he proposes to take on the official proposal made on 11th December by Marshal Bulganin to the effect that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is prepared to stop nuclear weapon tests from the New Year provided that Great Britain and the United States of America agree to do likewise.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
§ Mr. RobertsIs the Lord Privy Seal aware that the majority of people in Britain really do believe that the Government are not doing sufficient in this direction? Is he further aware that the initiative now in the hands of the U.S.S.R. is having a profound effect on the people of the Middle and Far East?
§ Mr. ButlerI think that my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, who are at present at N.A.T.O., are well aware of these considerations, but I would remind the hon. Gentleman that in the original answer it appears that M. Bulganin still envisages the suspension of the nuclear tests in isolation from a disarmament agreement, and with that we do not agree.