HC Deb 16 May 1960 vol 623 cc902-3
16. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further progress has been made at the Geneva conference on nuclear tests.

Mr. Profumo

I have nothing to add to the statements made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. and learned Friend in the foreign affairs debate on 12th May.

Mr. Warbey

Can the hon. Gentleman say why the British Government have accepted the extraordinarily leisurely timetable proposed by the American delegate extending the establishment of a control system a further three to five or even six years? If this is to be a valuable pilot system in international control, is it not important that it should be established with all possible speed?

Mr. Profumo

Certainly, it is—but it is equally important that it should be established with absolute verity, and that is what we are after.