HC Deb 26 February 1970 vol 796 cc1391-2
Q2. Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Prime Minister what action he is proposing to take to implement his policy that there should be a special relationship between the United States of America and Great Britain based on joint interest in urban and social problems.

The Prime Minister

We began discussions on some of the problems of advanced societies when President Nixon visited London in February of last year. Since then we have developed substantially existing contacts both between our experts in this field and at Ministerial level, and I discussed a number of environmental problems with President Nixon last month.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

Could the Prime Minister name two such topics which justify his claim of a special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom which are not also of interest to other countries?

The Prime Minister

In my speech I made it clear that we neither of us intended to regard this as an exclusive arrangement. Indeed, we have discussed some of these problems not only with the Western countries but with the Soviet Union as well, and there are discussions in the E.E.C. on these points. I was asked to mention two subjects. I would mention one that we discussed in February. It was the great preoccupation in the United States with what they called black lung, or pneumoconiosis as we call it, on which we have a lot of help we can give them. Our Chief Inspector of Mines recently went to the United States to give them the benefit of our experience. Other matters which I have seen at our pollution laboratories involve, for example, atmospheric pollution, on which we have still a lot to teach them. This was recognised in American Press comment on my statement.

Mr. Snow

In future consultations on urban and social problems will my right hon. Friend discuss with the United States the problem of indestructible materials, such as plastics and factory effluents, which are having very serious effects on environmental problems?

The Prime Minister

I know that my hon. Friend is concerned about those matters from a constituency point of view. I referred to atmospheric pollution since I was asked to name only two subjects, but from discussions with our water pollution experts I know that on the subject of water pollution we have quite a lot on which we can help to inform the Americans and perhaps learn something from them.