§ 8. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consultations took place with representatives of Commonwealth Governments before permission was given to the Government of the United States of America to operate nuclear atmospheric tests on Christmas Island, in view of the danger of radioactive fallout to such countries.
§ Mr. BraineWe have naturally been in touch with Commonwealth Governments about these matters.
§ Mr. BrockwayWhat does the Minister mean by being "in touch" with them? Did not the last Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference pass a 1492 resolution on this very subject which declared for the banning of all nuclear weapons? Did not Canada and Australia protest on a wide basis against the Christmas Island experiments in 1957? Did not Australia protest against the proposal that the French nuclear tests should be transferred from the Sahara to the Pacific? Has not the Prime Minister of New Zealand now protested against the Christmas Island nuclear test proposal on the ground that there is a cluster of islands round Christmas Island—almost like the Milky Way—on the edge of which is Samoa, with a thousand people—
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member must keep his supplementary question within confines which do not suggest that it is a speech. I think that he was perilously near, at one point, to Question No. Q14 to the Prime Minister, which we must not anticipate.
§ Mr. BraineI am perfectly prepared to answer the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question—it is just that it was somewhat lengthy. We informed all Commonwealth Governments immediately a decision in principle was taken. Naturally, we had close consultations with Australia and New Zealand, the two countries most closely affected, and directly concerned in the preparations. As the hon. Gentleman knows, discussions of this kind between Commonwealth Governments are confidential, and I cannot give him any details.
§ Mr. HealeyCan the hon. Gentleman clear up an ambiguity which has, unintentionally or intentionally, crept into his answers? Can he say whether Her Majesty's Government consulted the Commonwealth Governments most closely concerned before the decision in principle was taken and announced to this House?
§ Mr. BraineI should like notice of that Question.
§ Mr. SpeakerMrs. Castle.
§ Mr. HealeyOn a point of order. That question is precisely the one put down by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe trouble about that is that it is not a point of order but a comment.
§ Mr. HealeyIt is the Question put down, Sir.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat may be so, but I do not have any power to tell Ministers to answer.
§ Mrs. CastleDoes not the Under-Secretary's Answer mean that Her Majesty's Government are now giving preference to the views of the United States over those of the Commonwealth?
§ Mr. BraineEmphatically not. Indeed, in a public statement on 9th February the Prime Minister of New Zealand acknowledged that the Anglo-American decision to prepare for atmospheric tests—though not welcome to New Zealand—was forced on them by the action of the Russians. The position is fully understood in the Commonwealth.
§ Mr. FellIs not my hon. Friend aware that there is, nevertheless, considerable disquiet about any tests that take place anywhere? Is he quite satisfied in these negotiations that America absolutely requires these tests to keep up with the Russians? In other words, are these tests really necessary or are they a part of propaganda?
§ Mr. BraineThat goes completely wide of the Question on the Notice Paper and I suggest that my hon. Friend should put down a Question to the appropriate Minister.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesHas the Under-Secretary examined the statement made by the Prime Minister of New Zealand, who expressed great alarm about these tests? Will the Under-Secretary see to it that the precautions we took regarding dried milk and against strontium which followed the Russian tests are made available to New Zealand in case there is fall-out there?
§ Mr. BraineI think that there is general anxiety on this subject throughout the world. The hon. Gentleman has no monopoly on it. I am advised that radioactivity resulting from any test that may be held at Christmas Island will be only a very small fraction of that produced by the Russian tests.
§ Mr. HealeyOn a point of order. May I have your guidance, Mr. Speaker? When replying earlier the Minister said that he would need notice of a supplementary question and that if it was put down he would give an answer. But this particular question was put down, as Question No. 8 and was answered by the Minister. My point of order is: will it be possible for the Table Office to accept another Question in the same sense?
§ Mr. SpeakerI will look at the Question when it is tabled if I may, and precisely at what the Minister said in reply. If it adds up, in fact, to a refusal to answer it the position might be complicated by that.