HC Deb 11 May 1959 vol 605 cc852-3
32. Mr. P. Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how far Her Majesty's Government have yet formulated proposals for the abolition by international agreement of all biological and bacteriological weapons, and of all poison gases.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I share the right hon. Gentleman's desire to see these weapons abolished. The whole question of disarmament, and the proposals we could usefully make to solve this vital problem, are being reviewed by the Departments concerned.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Has the Minister of State not seen the warning given by General Marshall Stubbs of the United States Army last month that great technical advances in chemical and bacteriological weapons have been made in the last four years and that the survival of the American nation may depend on finding defences against them which do not now exist? In view of this, ought not the Government now to institute a very close study of proposals for their abolition?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I think that that would be very wise, and we are quite prepared to do so, but, as the right hon. Gentleman is aware, at present those weapons are prohibited altogether. They are banned. What we have to do is to see that their abolition forms part of any disarmament proposals.

Mr. Noel-Baker

I fully agree, and I am most grateful to the Minister for his Answers. Would he suggest to the Ministers of Defence and Supply that they should not pooh-pooh the dangers of these weapons and suggest that they have been exaggerated?