HC Deb 27 July 1959 vol 610 cc4-5
6. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will attend in person the September session of the United Nations General Assembly; and whether he will make a statement on the proposals he will make there with regard to general disarmament and the resumption of discussions.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. John Profumo)

My right hon. and learned Friend certainly intends to lead the United Kingdom Delegation to the Fourteenth Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the proposals on general disarmament which would be made on behalf of Her Majesty's Government at the Assembly. But we shall be guided by the considerations which my right hon. Friend explained to the right hon. and learned Member on 20th July.

As to the resumption of discussions, I cannot at present go beyond what my right hon. and learned Friend told the House on 27th April.

Mr. Henderson

In view of the fact that Parliament is going into Recess on Thursday, should not the Minister of State be a little more precise or forthcoming? Would he give any indication whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to propose that the Disarmament Sub-Committee, which is now composed of three and one, West and East, will be amended or increased in membership so as to bring in not only further representatives from the Eastern countries but also representatives of the con-committed countries?

Mr. Profumo

As my answer indicated, it would be premature at this stage to formulate definite disarmament proposals while the Geneva Foreign Ministers' Conference is in progress.