HC Deb 22 January 1968 vol 757 cc9-11
11. Mr. Coe

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on progress towards a non-proliferation agreement.

46. Mr. Bob Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made by the Eighteen-National Disarmament Committee in Geneva towards the achievement of a non-proliferation treaty; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mulley

A new draft of the Treaty, revised to take account of the views expressed during the previous session of the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee and including an agreed Safeguards Article III, was tabled by the co-Chairmen at the opening meeting of the Committee's new session at Geneva on 18th January. The draft text of the Treaty is now therefore complete and is open for general debate in the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee and later in the United Nations. Copies of the amended text will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible. Her Majesty's Government greatly welcome this development, in which we have played our part. We hope that it will lead to early and final agreement on the Treaty.

Mr. Coe

I am sure that the whole House welcomes the news given by my right hon. Friend, but could he be more specific about when he thinks the Treaty might be signed?

Mr. Mulley

It is too early yet to give a date. My hon. Friend will know that it is intended, by the middle of March, to report from Geneva to the United Nations when further sessions will be held. I hope that it will not be long before a very large number of countries find themselves able to sign and later ratify this Treaty.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will not be a party to anything in this Treaty which would discriminate against or between existing members of the European Community?

Mr. Money

I am not sure what is meant by "discrimination as between the members of the European Community". Certainly as a country interested in the development of the European Community, we have consistently taken the line that their special circumstances must be borne in mind in the drafting of the Treaty. Whether all the members of the Community become signatories is a matter on which I cannot speculate.