§ 40. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Prime Minister if, at the forthcoming Prime Ministers' Conference, he will put forward proposals for a Commonwealth 308 initiative towards multilateral disarmament.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)While it has never been our practice at these Commonwealth meetings to seek to arrive at concerted programmes of action, it is my hope that our coming discussions on important current issues including disarmament will prove fruitful.
§ Mr. StonehouseI thank the Prime Minister for that reply which indicates that he will at last, perhaps, take action to relieve the crushing burden of defence on our economy, but will he agree that it would be valuable to have a debate in the House in order that he may hear the opinion of the House before the talks take place?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is not a matter for me.