§ 5. Mr. Rankinasked the Lord Privy Seal when the Armaments Control Agency of the Western European Union last paid a visit of inspection to the West German rocket missile centre.
§ Mr. HeathLast year the Armaments Control Agency conducted twenty-two inspections in the Federal Republic of Germany, of which three look place in missile depôts and three were of missile units. I will circulate further details of the Agency's activities in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. RankinI look forward with interest to the details, and I thank the right hon. Gentleman for proposing to circulate them. Can he say that the visits have shown that the prohibition imposed on Western Germany under the Brussels Treaty of 1954 with regard to the manufacture of atomic, biological and chemical weapons is still being respected, and, if so, can the right hon. Gentleman then tell us where Germany is training the nuclear scientists that she is now sending to the Middle East?
§ Mr. HeathThe hon. Gentleman's Question deals with what he terms the West German rocket missile centre, although we were not able to identify it as such. The Armaments Control Agency has expressed itself satisfied with the result of its visits. The last part of the supplementary question does not, of course, arise on this Question.
§ Mr. KershawCan my right hon. Friend say what representations Her Majesty's Government have recently made to interested Governments and our allies to get the Brussels Treaty properly acknowledged and ratified so that the Armaments Control Agency can carry out its duties all over Europe as well as in the cases that it has done?
§ Mr. HeathI gave a list a short time ago of the countries which have now ratified, and Her Majesty's Government have always urged the remaining Governments to ratify at the earliest opportunity.
§ Mr. RankinSurely, if we are banning Germany from the manufacture of nuclear weapons, it is pertinent to ask 693 if we are also banning her from the manufacture of nuclear scientists?
§ Mr. HeathThat is not a matter which so far as I know comes under the Armaments Control Agency, and it is quite separate from the Question. There are German scientists with a wide variety of knowledge which they use in all parts of the world.
Following are the details:Inspections by the Armaments Control Agency of Western European Union take place regularly throughout the territories of member States on the mainland of Europe. With regard to the Federal Republic of Germany, in 1960 twenty armaments inspections were carried out, including two to missile factories and one to a missile training school. In 1961 there were eighteen inspections, including four to depôts containing stocks of missiles, one to a missile unit and one to a missile factory. In 1962 twenty-two inspections were conducted, three in missile depôts and three of missile units. In addition, a visit was paid to an institution engaged in civilian rocket research. Further controls are planned for 1963, but the details are confidential.