HC Deb 06 July 1971 vol 820 cc1124-5
Q4. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his recent official discussions with Mr. Smirnovsky.

The Prime Minister

The Soviet Ambassador called on 17th June to convey a proposal for a conference of the five nuclear Powers. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs told the House on 21st June, we are studying this proposal carefully, and would wish to be represented at any such conference.

Mr. Allaun

I am very glad to hear it. Presumably that means we would accept such an invitation?

The Prime Minister indicated assent

.

Mr. Allaun

Will the British Government now propose the ending of all underground tests, since some inhibition by the nuclear Powers was implicit in the non-proliferation agreement?

The Prime Minister

Obviously, if there were to be such a conference this would be one of the matters discussed. I think the hon. Member is well aware of the problem which arose when the negotiation of the partial test ban treaty was going on. As I have said, if there is such a conference we shall wish to be represented. There are certain problems which have to be examined by all the countries concerned as to the general relation of such a conference to the general disarmament conference and also to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks going on at the moment. These are matters we are now exploring.