HC Deb 04 February 1960 vol 616 cc1220-1
46. Mr. Healey

asked the Prime Minister what proposals he will make at the forthcoming Summit Conference concerning the limitation and control of armaments in Central Europe.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I have been asked to reply.

We shall be discussing with our allies in the coming months what proposals can be made at the Summit Conference in this connection, or, indeed, on any other subject. The hon. Gentleman will, however, be aware that the Western proposals on Germany and European security put forward at Geneva last May contained provisions for controlling armaments in an agreed area of Europe.

Mr. Healey

I trust that the Home Secretary is aware also that those proposals in the so-called package plan are dependent on a large number of political pre-conditions which are most unlikely to be realised. Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that the Government are seriously considering putting forward proposals for the limitation of armaments which are not so conditioned?

Mr. Butler

The second part of the hon. Member's statement raises a wider question, but I can give the assurance that every aspect of importance will be discussed with our allies, as I said in the early part of my Answer.