HC Deb 26 June 1957 vol 572 cc196-7
31. Mr. Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the discussions at the four-Power Disarmament Commission.

32. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent meetings of the United Nations Disarmament Sub-Committee.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

My right hon. and learned Friend is well aware of the great interest of hon. Members in the disarmament discussions, and he is considering when he might make a statement with advantage to the House and to the progress of the negotiations.

Mr. Brockway

While appreciating that situation, may I ask if it is not a fact that these discussions have begun with more hope probably than at any period of the meetings of this Sub-Committee? Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the British contribution to the discussions will seek the purpose of disarmament which all of us so intensely desire?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I can certainly give the hon. Member that undertaking.

Mr. Henderson

In view of the statement in The Times this morning, reporting that the Foreign Secretary at yesterday's meeting welcomed the Soviet proposal for a suspension of nuclear tests, are we to understand that the Government are now prepared to enter into an agreement for the suspension of nuclear tests?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I really do not think that in a Question and Answer of this kind we are going to make very much progress. I would beg the right hon. and learned Member to await a rather full statement by my right hon. and learned Friend. I think that to take small parts of the disarmament proposals, discuss them and be asked to comment on them in isolation is not very helpful.