HC Deb 24 March 1964 vol 692 cc240-1
Q2. Mrs. Castle

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Minister with power to co-ordinate the defence and disarmament policies of Her Majesty's Government.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. The defence and disarmament policies of Her Majesty's Government are directly related to the respective responsibilities of my right hon. Friends the Minister of Defence and the Foreign Secretary, who proceed in close consultation.

Mrs. Castle

In view of the fact that the Foreign Secretary at the Geneva disarmament talks has pledged this country to reduce the number of our strategic nuclear delivery vehicles if other countries will do the same, would the right hon. Gentleman tell the House under what circumstances arising at the disarmament talks he would be willing to reduce the number of Polaris missiles which we have on order for delivery over the next five years?

The Prime Minister

The hon. Lady had better have what my right hon. Friend said. He said: We welcome the American intention that a start might be made on the problem of limiting the numbers and characteristics of strategic nuclear delivery vehicles. And therefore anything that we might agree to depends on what progress we are able to make with the Russians and, of course, with the Americans, the largest nuclear Powers.

Mrs. Castle

Further to that reply, does not the Prime Minister's answer reveal that there is a need to reconcile statements made by different Ministers of this Government? Is it not a fact that the Minister of Defence told the House that we would not in any circumstances reduce the number of Polaris missiles which are not due to arrive except over the next five years? Does this mean that, whatever the Russians propose at Geneva, Her Majesty's Government visualise no progress being made with disarmament over the next five years?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. What President Johnson proposed in his proposal that there might be a nuclear "freeze" has yet to be worked out at Geneva and the Americans have to put forward in detail what they are proposing. What we know for certain is that President Johnson said that this would not affect our own Polaris programme.

Mr. G. Brown

In view of the fact that the Foreign Secretary and the First Lord of the Admiralty clearly see eye to eye, would it not be better if the First Lord were appointed to take the place of the present Minister of Defence?

Hon. Members

Answer.

The Prime Minister

Not worth answering.