§ 30. Mr. Swinglerasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the substantial section of public opinion favouring unilateral action by Great Britain to end the nuclear arms race, he will cause a review to be made of Her Majesty's Government's foreign and defence policies to 26 find ways and means of implementing this.
§ The Prime MinisterHer Majesty's Government's policy is to aim for balanced disarmament, both conventional and nuclear, under effective international control. To this end, my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary outlined proposals in the United Nations last autumn, and these led to the putting forward of the Western plan at Geneva. I earnestly hope that on the basis of this plan, which is practical and comprehensive, progress will be made.
§ Mr. SwinglerDoes not the Prime Minister think that some review of Government policy is required at this time? In view of the powerful impact of the Aldermaston march, which is indisputable, and in view of the Government's own drift into unilateral disarmament by a series of defaults, is not this clearly a time when the Government should try to make an attempt to reconcile the assumptions on which their foreign policy is based with the out-dated principles of their defence policy?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir, I do not think—I do not think that the House as a whole believes—that unilateral disarmament by the Government would be the best method of getting what we hope to achieve in these discussions, partly at Geneva and perhaps fortified by our discussions at the Summit—some real advance in the disarmament programme.
§ Mr. S. SilvermanDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that what he is being asked about is not unilateral disarmament in general but the much more limited question of whether this country should take part in nuclear warfare or be armed with an independent nuclear deterrent? In view of the perfectly plain statement by the Minister of Defence only a short time ago that we have never had one, that we have not got one and that we cannot get delivery of one, would it not be wiser to accede to my hon. Friend's request to review the policy so as to make the facts accord with the theories?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I think that every statement the hon. Gentleman has made is biased, unfair, ill-balanced and false.