§ Q3. Mr. Blakerasked the Prime Minister what plans he has for carrying out further nuclear test explosions.
§ The Prime MinisterNone, Sir, for the immediate future.
§ Mr. BlakerWill the Prime Minister give an assurance that if and when he carries out future tests, he will announce them at the time they occur? Is it not a fact that the last test which he carried out was at least as big as the bomb which was dropped on Hiroshima? Why did he conceal if from the country for 10 weeks after it had taken place?
§ The Prime MinisterI announced it in the House when the House resumed. This test was at least as big as the one carried out by the previous Government a year ago which did not go off. I have explained to the House the circumstances in which it was carried out.
§ Mr. HeathIn view of the fact that the previous Administration always announced tests in advance and immediately that they had been held and were always 1637 pressed to do so by the right hon. Gentleman and his friends, why did the Prime Minister not return to that practice and give proper notice and announce when it was being held, especially when he says that it was successful? Why did he delay the announcement until he was asked a Question? Was it in order to avoid it coming out at the Labour Party Conference?
§ The Prime MinisterI assure the right hon. Gentleman that I was not as sensitive about my party conference as he was about his. I would further assure the right hon. Gentleman that I did not stop my party conference reaching decisions on every issue before it. These things were pat to the vote, and were encouraged to be put to the vote. So far as the test is concerned, I announced it to the House.
§ Mr. SpeakerEven the Prime Minister must not make such long supplementary answers.