§ 22. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration has been given by Her Majesty's Government to the Report of the United Nations Economic and Social Council on Economic and Social Consequences of Disarmament; and what action is being taken along the lines suggested by this report to avoid unemployment in the armaments industries.
§ Sir E. BoyleThe Report recently published is by the Secretary-General of the United Nations not by the Economic and Social Council. The General Assembly's Resolution No. 1516 of 17th December, 1960, requested the Secretary-General to submit this Report to the Economic and Social Council; and it will now be discussed at the 34th Session of the Council, which is due to be held at Geneva in July of this year. Her Majesty's Government are considering the Report carefully in preparation for this discussion. I do not consider any further action to be called for at the present time.
§ Mr. HyndWill the Government do all they can to publicise the findings of this Council in order to reassure people that unemployment will not necessarily follow disarmament? Does he agree that the sooner we divert the money, skill and energy expended on armaments to more useful channels the better it will be for everybody?
§ Sir E. BoyleI am glad that the hon. Gentleman's Question gives me an opportunity of quoting from paragraph 173 of the conclusions, which says:
It seems abundantly clear that no country need fear a lack of useful employment opportunities for the resources that would become available to it through disarmament.
§ Mr. PrenticeWill the Government consider issuing a popular version of the Report so that it can be widely read and so that the reassurances to which my hon. Friend referred can be more widely understood?
§ Sir E. BoyleI will pass that suggestion on. I am sure that my right hon. and learned Friend will consider it. My information is that Part I of the Report is to be published by the United Nations in New York in about ten days' time, and copies should be available shortly afterwards in this country.
§ Sir C. OsborneHow many workers in this country will be affected by such proposals?
§ Sir E. BoyleMy hon. Friend has asked a question which no human being could answer without notice. I must tell him frankly that I still take the same view of his views on this question as I took when he asked a Question some weeks ago. It is quite clear that this country could well find useful employment for all the resources and skilled manpower which would become available.