§ 45. Mr. Stracheyasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the appeal by two Commonwealth Prime Ministers, he will now suggest a simultaneous standstill of nuclear tests with appropriate controls, on the part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United States of America and Great Britain, pending the conclusion of a disarmament agreement.
§ 48. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister whether he will give an undertaking that, following the completion of the current series of nuclear bomb tests, no such further tests will be undertaken by Great Britain.
§ 51. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister whether, following the recent British test explosion in the Central Pacific, Her Majesty's Government are now willing to consider a trial period during which nuclear test explosions would be suspended, so as to enable an effective system of control and inspection to be established for the purpose of enforcing an agreed ban of the hydrogen bomb.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)I have nothing to add to the statements I have already made of the position of Her Majesty's Government on these matters.
§ Mr. StracheyCannot the Prime Minister tell us what is his real reason for refusing to make the simple statement that under appropriate controls we will stop these tests, if the other Powers will stop?
§ The Prime MinisterHer Majesty's Government have put forward proposals on nuclear tests which we hope will form the basis of agreement in the Disarmament Sub-Committee.
§ Mr. HendersonAbout a month ago in the Disarmament Sub-Committee the Government proposed that a committee of experts be established to consider the best ways of limiting and supervising nuclear test explosions. Can the Prime Minister say whether that committee has been established, and if so, is it in operation?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir; we have put forward our proposals but they have not yet been accepted.
§ Mr. HamiltonIf the Prime Minister adheres to his original proposition that the continuation of these explosions strengthens our bargaining position, can he tell us where we shall be led by this argument? Are we not to foresee any cessation of these explosions, and can we therefore be given an answer to the question about what is the information of the Government on how many megaton test explosions there have been since the original publication of the Medical Research Council Report?
§ The Prime MinisterI should like notice of the latter part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. With regard to the first part, I repeat that we have put forward our proposals and we hope that they will prove acceptable.
§ Mr. StracheyAre we then to conclude that the Prime Minister is not in favour even of all-round simultaneous nuclear disarmament and that he has given no lead in that direction? Does he not agree that the effect on the rest of the Commonwealth is very bad indeed, judging from the statements of Commonwealth Prime Ministers?
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman has changed his question. He is now talking about nuclear disarmament. The question with which I was dealing was that about tests. On the question of tests, we have made our proposals and we believe them to be sound. The question of nuclear disarmament, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, is a wider question which is also being discussed in the Committee.
§ Mr. P, Noel-Baker rose—
Mr. Noel-BakerCan the Prime Minister tell us whether in the proposals which we put forward and about which he has spoken, there was any suggestion of any limitation of tests which we should make, whether of number, type or power, or is it the intention of the Government to go on making tests until we have caught up in knowledge with the United States and Russia?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is not the intention of the Government to get into a position in which those Governments which have conducted sufficient tests can continue to make nuclear weapons. If we are to have disarmament it must be all-round disarmament.
§ Mr. MellishOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. For some time now during Question Time, when my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Mr. P. Noel-Baker) has risen to his feet to ask a supplementary question—arid even before he has asked it—he has been greeted by sneers and jeers from hon. Gentlemen opposite. Some hon. Members on this side of the House are getting fed up with it, and we wish to know what control the Chair has in this matter. We give notice that if the Chair is unable to control right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite, we shall select certain hon. Members on the Government Front Bench for similar treatment.
§ Several Hon. Members rose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. That is not a point of order for me. It is quite impossible for me to foresee outbreaks of noise from either side of the House. I can intervene only if they are sufficiently pro-ionized to enable me to do so effectively. Sir James Hutchison, Question No. 46.
§ Mr. MellishFurther to that point of order. With respect, Mr. Speaker, it is the case that for some considerable time my right hon. Friend has been subjected to this barrage the moment he rises to his feet. The whole House knows about this and I am sure, Mr. Speaker, that you must do as well. I repeat again that surely such conduct, time after time, is not the sort of conduct that we are entitled to expect and that something should be done rather than that you should give the sort of Ruling which you have given?
§ Mr. SpeakerI cannot foresee what will occur every time. I think it would be rather invidious for me to rise, every time the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mr. P. Noel-Baker) wishes to ask a supplementary question. and ask for silence before any noise has been heard.
§ Mr. H. FraserFurther to the point of order—
§ Mr. GaitskellFurther to the same point of order, Mr. Speaker. While we can fully understand your difficulty in foretelling the kind of noises which are going to be made in this House, nevertheless I am sure you will agree that this custom to which my hon. Friend refers seems to have grown up. Would it not be possible for you to indicate your lisapproval of conduct of that kind?
§ Mr. SpeakerI have noticed that in the last few days there has been an outbreak of noise when the right hon. Member for Derby, South rises to ask a supplementary question. I also noticed at one time that the hon. and gallant Member for Knutsford (Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport) was generally greeted with a similar noise emanating from the opposite side of the House. I do, of course, strongly deprecate any outbreak of noise which interferes with the good order which the House should always maintain. Sir James Hutchison.
§ Mr. H. FraserFurther to that point of order.
§ Mr. SpeakerI have dealt with the point of order which has been raised. If the hon. Member has a new point of order to raise, I will listen to him.
§ Mr. FraserMy only point of order is that the chief cause for this outbreak 607 of tumult is undoubtedly that the right hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Dalton) made a violent attack in his book upon the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mr. P. Noel-Baker).
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The House is now straying very widely from the business. Sir James Hutchison, Question No. 46.