HC Deb 03 July 1972 vol 840 cc3-5
3. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects he is proposing to seek to include in the agenda of the forthcoming South-East Asia Treaty Organisation Conference.

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Anthony Royle)

The agenda for the council meetings of the South-East Asian Treaty Organisation is drawn up by the Secretary-General and is confidential. The agenda for this year's meeting covered the military and civil activities of the organisation and reviewed developments affecting the Treaty area itself in the past year.

Mr. Hamilton

Would the hon. Gentleman explain why the Foreign Secretary has not been more forthcoming in his condemnation of the French nuclear tests in the Pacific, in view of the statements by the Secretary of State for the Environment in Stockholm on similar matters? This is pollution of the environment and it may be endangering the lives of innocent people far removed from France or this country.

Mr. Royle

The French Government are aware of our concern for the well-being of the inhabitants of Pitcairn Island. As in previous years, we have Royal Air Force personnel in Pitcairn monitoring the French tests in order to ascertain that they do not give rise to health hazards, and their reports to date show no increase in radioactivity over normal background levels, and therefore we have no evidence of any hazard to health. The subject was not discussed in conference at the SEATO meeting.

Mr. Blaker

Can my hon Friend say what representations were made about nuclear tests to the French Government by the previous Labour Government?

Mr. Royle

I cannot, of course, answer for the previous Labour Government, but I understand that no representations were made to the French by the last Administration calling for the cessation of nuclear tests, in 1966, when there were five French tests, in 1967, when there were three, or in 1968, when there were five.

Mr. Callaghan

Whatever may have happened in the past, is there not widespread concern throughout the members of SEATO about this matter? In view of the confusion that seems to exist, may I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he has asked the French Government whether the tests have been carried out, whether the French are in the middle of them, or whether the tests have been completed, before he tells us about increases in radioactivity? If he has not asked, will he please do so, and will he represent strongly to the French that we wish them to take the tests no further?

Mr. Royle

My right hon. Friend and I are not prepared to make representations to the French Government. We are aware—we have no reason to doubt—that a test took place on 25th June, although we have no confirmation yet of a second test having taken place. As I explained earlier, our reports from Pitcairn so far show no increase of radioactivity over normal background levels and we have no evidence of any hazard to health.

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