§ Q4. Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister whether, as a step towards reaching an agreement on chemical and bacteriological weapons, he will propose to President Johnson and Mr. Khrushchev an exchange of information on this sector of science, between Great Britain, the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
§ The Prime MinisterBoth the American and the Soviet disarmament plans put forward at Geneva contain proposals for the elimination of chemical and biological weapons. I think the best way to proceed is to discuss these matters at Geneva in the context of these two plans.
§ Mr. DalyellWill the Prime Minister prepare the ground by taking suitable technical advisers?
§ The Prime MinisterDid the hon. Gentleman ask whether I would see that there was a technical adviser at Geneva?
§ Mr. DalyellIn the light of the evidence which I sent to the right hon. Gentleman last week, would it not be an opportunity to take scientists in February who are competent to prepare the groundwork on this important question?
§ The Prime MinisterWe usually have them with us at Geneva. My right hon. Friend, if he goes, or any other Minister there, usually has expert evidence with him. Certainly I will see if this might be done.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerWould the Prime Minister consider the possibility of making a proposal to abolish biological warfare preparations in advance of a general agreement and transforming the present research stations into establishments for combatting and abolishing diseases throughout the world?
§ The Prime MinisterI should like to discuss the very interesting question raised by the right hon. Gentleman with the Americans, our allies, and other allies to see whether we can make any progress before the actual stages of a disarmament agreement are put into practice. I am not very sure that this is possible. It raises all sorts of security issues for one thing.