§ Ql. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister what reports he has received from his scientific advisers on the consequences of the latest United States high altitude tests on the ionosphere and on radio communications.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on this subject on 31st July.
§ Mr. HendersonIn view of President Kennedy's statement yesterday that the Americans are to carry out three more high altitude tests and in view of Mr. Khrushchev's announcement of the intention of his Government to carry out high altitude tests, may I ask the Prime Minister whether any further proposals have been agreed between him and President Kennedy with a view to expediting the achievement of a nuclear test ban treaty and so end the need for these tests?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have very close communication on this subject which, as the right hon. and learned Gentleman knows, is now being discussed at Geneva. I hope that we may be able to make some valuable proposals.
§ Mr. GaitskellDid not the right hon. Gentleman say on 24th July that the American test series had been concluded? Can the right hon. Gentleman confirm or deny the suggestion of my right hon. and learned Friend that there are to be further high altitude tests by the United States?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that the American tests so far as Christmas Island is concerned are concluded.
§ Mr. HendersonWill the Prime Minister clarify that statement? Does not he consider it desirable to suspend all further high altitude tests until the results of the last high altitude tests have been evaluated?
§ The Prime MinisterI understand that the Americans are to make some further tests owing to some of the original experiments having proved a failure. But at the end of these that series will be concluded.
§ Mr. GaitskellIn the right hon. Gentleman's statement on 24th July he referred not to the series of tests on Christmas Island being concluded but to the whole series being concluded. Can he explain the contradiction between what he said then and what he has said today?
§ The Prime MinisterI now understand that the Americans have decided 787 to make some tests to take the place of those which proved a failure.
§ Q4. Mr. Dribergasked the Prime Minister how many more nuclear tests are to be made in the present Christmas Island series; and if he will now estimate the approximate number of new cases of bone cancel and leukaemia and of genetic damage likely to be caused by these tests.
§ The Prime MinisterAs I said on 24th July, the series of tests conducted from Christmas Island is now completed. I am advised that there is not a sufficiently firm basis of knowledge on which estimates of the effects of the tests in the form proposed by the hon. Member could be prepared.
§ Mr. DribergSince the Prime Minister has himself referred us to official estimates of figures in the case of previous test series, is it not dear that it is not because they are unobtainable that he cannot let us have these figures? Is it not rather because, as a humane man, he cannot bring himself to face the fact that by deliberate policy, but on a much larger scale, he is causing the same sort of human suffering as rightly shocks the House when it is caused by accident through the distribution of a drug?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. So far as our information at present goes, the short- and long-term fall-out will not reach any serious level as a result of these tests. But, of course, there will be the second report of the United Nations Committee some time in the middle of this month.
§ Mr. M. FootHas the Prime Minister been able to consider the point which he told me last week he would consider, namely, that he would examine whether it was possible to publish a statement giving the full number of tests conducted both by the West and the Russians with an estimate of the fall-out dangers resulting from the tests on both sides? Has he been able to consider whether he would do this?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir, I will consider that, but, of course, it is not possible to do it until very careful evaluation has been made, which takes some time to do.
§ Mr. GowerIs it not worthy of emphasis in relation to these tests that 788 in recent years Britain has set a wonderful example in the voluntary suspension of tests and that their resumption was something that we deplored?
§ The Prime MinisterNot only Britain but the United States voluntarily suspended these tests for a period of three years, when the Russians suddenly, without notice, resumed them.
§ Mr. LubbockHow does it happen that we in this House are never able to be told what amount of bone cancer and leukaemia is caused by nuclear tests when the work by Mr. Herman Kahn, which is being done on behalf of the Rand Corporation in America, has resulted in an accurate estimate which has nowhere else been contradicted?
§ The Prime MinisterI think I had better wait for the United Nations report.