§ 47. Mr. Beswickasked the Prime Minister whether the advice given to him about the insignificance of genetic effects due to fall-out from nuclear explosions relates to the insignificant effect upon any one individual or the insignificant number of individuals affected.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Medical Research Council stated in its report on "The Hazards to Man of Nuclear and Allied Radiations" that the genetic effects of radiation are essentially problems con- 566 cerning the future welfare of the population as a whole. The total amount of radiation received by the population, to which fall-out contributes only a very small fraction, is the genetically significant factor and not the amount received by any one individual except in as much as the latter contributes to the whole.
§ Mr. BeswickBut does the Prime Minister not agree that the use of the term "insignificant" in relation to genetic hazards is misleading—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—and that at least two signatories to the Report of the Medical Research Council objected to the term "insignificant" in so far as it was intended to convey that the number of children who will be born deformed is limited, and is insignificant as a proportion of the total number of children?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I think the word "insignificant" is well justified by the facts, which are these: the Gonad dose of radiation attributable to the fallout from nuclear weapon explosions is less than 1 per cent. of the natural background radiation. That is less than 1 per cent. of what we cannot avoid being subject to by being born and living on this earth. It is interesting also to note that medical diagnostic radiology is at least 22 per cent. of the natural background radiation per annum.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister aware that to call these V-bombs clean bombs is hypocritical, and that a bomb which will kill thousands of people and will cause children to be born deformed is not only dirty but devilishly dirty?
§ The Prime MinisterI was trying to defend by statistical information the use of the word "insignificant" in connection with the addition made to the total radiation of the world by this particular test explosion. When, as I say, the fallout from all the explosions made by all the countries concerned—of which ours is, of course, a tiny fraction—amounts to only one per cent. of what we cannot help receiving anyway by being alive, I think I am entitled to use the word "insignificant".
§ Mr. OsborneIs it not a pity that hon. Gentlemen opposite, who seem so frightened of this, should take such great pains to frighten other people outside on such insignificant evidence?
§ Mr. BeswickWhile considering this matter, will the Prime Minister look at the evidence given by Mr. Warren Weaver, Chairman of the United States Committee on the Genetic Effects of Radiation, in which he dealt with this precise point? Mr. Weaver said that 6,000 additional children will be borne deformed to the present generation which, he said, is an insignificant proportion of the total births, but he went on to add, "Six thousand is a lot of babies", and would not the Prime Minister agree with that?
§ The Prime MinisterI have not read that report, and I will certainly look it up. If those figures are correct—my own are certainly correct—and one per cent. is the only addition to the natural amount of radiation, I think I am still entitled to say that is insignificant.
§ 48. Mr. Beswickasked the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that at the Summit Conference he will not insist that a properly supervised agreement on the suspension of nuclear tests will be made contingent upon other agreements.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to the statement I made to the House on 1st April, and to what I said in reply to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Zilliacus) on 29th April.
§ Mr. BeswickIs the conclusion which the House is to draw from that, therefore, that if we can get a cast-iron agreement for the suspension of tests under proper inspection the Prime Minister will not agree to it unless it is tied to some other agreement?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I do not think any of these deductions should be drawn. What I am hoping to do is to get a summit meeting arranged as rapidly as we can. When we get that, we will negotiate on all these matters.
§ Mr. BevanHas the right hon. Gentleman set his mind against the possibility of a suspension of nuclear tests as a separate issue, with control posts mutually agreed, even if agreement cannot be found upon other questions?
§ The Prime MinisterAll these questions will certainly be matters of negotiation by such a meeting, but I would 568 certainly not wish to tie my hands before entering such a meeting by any prior statements.
§ Mr. BevanIn view of the fact that the Russians have suspended tests, would it not be desirable if the right hon. Gentleman did not close his mind to what he himself has said on several occasions in the House of Commons, that if even some modest approach can be made to a summit solution of these difficulties, he will be in favour of it?
§ The Prime MinisterOf course I do not wish to close my mind, but I do not wish to tie my hands; nor, if I may be permitted to use the right hon. Gentleman's own words, would I wish to go naked into the conference.