§ 42. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister whether he will insitute a comprehensive inquiry into all the major consequences of general disarmament together with a co-ordination of all departmental studies on this problem.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that any special inquiry by Her Majesty's Government is called for at this stage. The General Assembly of the United Nations on 15th December approved a resolution calling on the Secretary-General to conduct an examination by experts of the economic and social consequences of disarmament. The Secretary-General has now appointed the Expert committee called for in this resolution and it will begin its work on 7th August.
§ Mr. HendersonWill the Prime Minister indicate that if the inquiry which the Secretary-General is carrying out is not sufficiently comprehensive as to the effects of general disarmament in this country, he will consider instituting a special inquiry?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have a British expert on the team, and we shall be kept fully informed. I will be frank; I wish I could feel that dealing with the economic results of comprehensive disarmament was the most difficult part of the problem.
§ Sir C. OsborneOught we not to make it clear to those who work in the engineering industry that any general disarmament will mean some short-term unemployment with some widespread unemployment in certain sections until the industry is re-orientated? Ought we not to warn the industry about it?
§ The Prime MinisterAny form of comprehensive disarmament to which we could possibly agree must come by stages over a period of years. I should have thought that so great would be the relief and so great would be the impetus given to the life of the world that any such problems that arose could well be dealt with.