HC Deb 25 July 1957 vol 574 cc589-90
46. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Prime Minister if he has yet considered the petition sent to him, signed by over 1,000 citizens of the City of Aberdeen, protesting against the testing of hydrogen and atomic bombs and calling for international agreement now to stop all tests of nuclear weapons; and what reply he intends to send to it.

The Prime Minister

I replied to the hon. and learned Gentleman on 20th July.

Mr. Hughes

While thanking the Prime Minister for that letter, may I ask him if he realises that neither that letter nor his recent speech was an adequate reply to the fundamental and essential problem involved in this? Is he aware that he is missing an international opportunity by his procrastination, and will he realise that this is a very real world problem, and that we expect Britain to take the initiative?

The Prime Minister

If it is the wish on the hon. and learned Gentleman, I will, of course, circulate his letter and my reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the letters:

House of Commons,

London, S.W.1.

July 16, 1957.

Dear Prime Minister,

I enclose a number of protests against H-bomb tests. You will see that they are signed by some hundreds of residents in the City of Aberdeen.

I shall be glad if you will consider them and send me a letter in reply which I can send to the two of my constituents whose letters are annexed and who have sent me these extensively signed documents. With your reply please send all the documents back to me.

Yours sincerely,

(Sgd.)HECTOR HUGHES.

The Right Hon. The Prime Minister.

10, Downing Street,

Whitehall, S.W.1.

July 20, 1957.

Dear Hector Hughes,

Thank you for your letter of July 16, with which you sent me the enclosed petition from some of your constituents, calling for an international agreement to stop all tests of nuclear weapons. As you know, a suspension of tests forms part of the agreement we are trying to secure in the Disarmament Sub-Committee. Her Majesty's Government, together with the Governments of Canada, France and the United States, have put forward proposals according to which a suspension of nuclear tests would form part of a first stage disarmament agreement.

Your sincerely,

(Sgd.)HAROLD MACMILLAN.

Hector Hughes, Esq., Q.C., M.P.