§ Q8. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Prime Minister whether he will publish the conclusions emerging from the latest discussions between United States nuclear scientists and the British scientists led by Sir Solly Zuckerman and Sir William Penney as to the feasibility of discovering and identifying, not only all nuclear test explosions in the atmosphere and undersea, but also minor underground explosions, from monitoring systems situated outside the territories of the nuclear powers.
§ The Prime MinisterI made a full statement on these discussions on Tuesday in reply to Questions by the hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Mason) and the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson). I have nothing to add at this stage.
§ Mr. ZilliacusIs it not a fact that leading American and British scientists in this field have indicated that methods already exist for the detecting and identifying of tests through monitoring systems situated outside the territories of the nuclear Powers, and would it not be desirable to publish the conclusions reached by this conference of scientists? Is not the public entitled to know just where we stand in this matter?
§ The Prime MinisterI have placed in the Library the statement made by the Department of Defence. This shows that further progress has been made in work on which the scientists have been engaged for a long time. I hope that this may facilitate all that we hope for, which is a final and comprehensive treaty.
§ Mrs. CastleWill the Prime Minister tell us whether he has yet sent more than a mere acknowledgement to the letter which he has received from Professor Don Leet offering to co-operate with British scientists in his method of detecting underground tests?
§ The Prime MinisterAll this information is available to both the British and American scientists.