§ Miss Richardsonasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will raise at the next meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Foreign Ministers the testing of the French neutron bomb.
§ Mr. RidleyMy right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.
§ Miss RichardsonIn view of the Government's much vaunted claim to be close to their allies and to have some influence with them, will they reconsider their position and point out to the French that the testing of a neutron bomb is a dangerous extension of the spread of nuclear weapons, which might destabilise the present position?
§ Mr. RidleyThe French are entitled to make their decisions. We understand why they have considered it necessary to develop the neutron bomb. We do not intend to follow their example.
§ Mr. ChurchillDoes my hon. Friend agree that it is reckless and irresponsible in the extreme for a nuclear power to give weapons-grade uranium to a non-nuclear power? What representations have the Government made, or intend to make, to the French Government about the imminent delivery of 72 kg of weapons-grade uranium to Iraq?
§ Mr. RidleyWe have no plans to do so.
§ Mr. ShoreThat is a reply which the Minister ought deeply to regret. As well as being a member of NATO, as is France, we are a member of the International Atomic Energy Authority. Along with France and others we took part in the INFCE evaluation fuel cycle. We share all these matters with them. Is the hon. Gentleman really saying that we have no interest in this extremely 1479 important matter and have no intention of raising it with the French?
§ Mr. RidleyI made it clear that the decision is one for the French to take and that it is not one which the British Government can pursue.