§ Q3. Mr. Blakerasked the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government will make new proposals for a comprehensive ban on nuclear weapon tests.
§ Q10. Mr. Ennalsasked the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government are now ready to propose an agreement to ban all nuclear weapon tests.
§ The Prime MinisterHer Majesty's Government attach great importance to the conclusion of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. We believe that it need only involve a small number of on-site inspections, and that these need not be intrusive; and we hope that the Soviet Government will agree to negotiate on this basis.
§ Mr. BlakerIs the Prime Minister aware that there will be a general welcome for anything which he can do to promote a comprehensive ban? Until such a ban is concluded, however, will the Government carry out such underground tests as may be necessary to make sure that our nuclear weapons are in good order?
§ The Prime MinisterThe whole question of the comprehensive ban on nuclear weapon tests has been discussed in the past few days between my noble Friend the Minister of State for Disarmament and the chief of the Nuclear Disarmament Agency of the United States Government.
§ Mr. EnnalsMay I ask my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister whether, in view of the advances in seismological research, it is his view that it is necessary still to have on-site inspections for these tests and whether this is a matter that will be discussed with Mr. Gromyko during his present visit?
§ The Prime MinisterThe need for this is diminishing because, of course, the 1065 powers of seismic investigations are increasing all the time. But I am still advised that it is necessary to have at least some inspections. Perhaps, in course of time, scientific improvement will be such that we do not need inspections, but I am advised that it is still necessary to have some, although, perhaps, not as many as were felt to be necessary before.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftWill the Prime Minister answer my hon. Friend's question and say that pending the conclusion of any such comprehensive ban, the normal programme of tests will go on?
§ The Prime MinisterSo far as this is concerned, I dealt with the whole question of the Atlantic Nuclear Force and I have said that anything that was necessary for our collective independent deterrent would be done. I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman does not want me to go into details of the last test that he carried out.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftMay I ask the Prime Minister simply to answer the question—it is simple and straight-forward—that unless and until there is a comprehensive ban on all tests, including underground tests, we can take it that the normal processes of carrying out underground tests will go forward?
§ The Prime MinisterI have said that what ever is necessary for the maintenance of our collective deterrent will be carried out. I have said that. But the right hon. Gentleman knows how things were left after the last test.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThe Prime Minister ties this test into what he calls a collective deterrent. It may be that he will not be able to give this deterrent away either to a multilateral force or an Atlantic Nuclear Force. What we are asking him is that the testing which is necessary to prove our weapons will go ahead whether there is a multilateral force, an Atlantic Nuclear Force or, indeed, whether the position remains as it is.
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman never answered questions of this kind himself. I do not intend to add more to what I have said.