HC Deb 31 March 1982 vol 21 cc292-3
5. Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Lord Privy Seal what ministerial representation Her Majesty's Government will have from his Department at the United Nations special session on disarmament.

Mr. Hurd

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 16 March, she plans to go to the second United Nations special session on disarmament. There are at present no plans for a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister to go as well.

Mr. Evans

Does the Foreign Office think it wrong that the Heads of Government should be meeting in Geneva at the same time as the United Nations disarmament conference takes place? Surely it would be a good idea for the Heads of Government of all countries throughout the world, including those from the NATO and Warsaw Pact countries, to attend the session and for Britain to submit constructive proposals for nuclear disarmament, for reducing the sale of conventional weapons throughout the world and for diverting the massive expenditure of £500 billion on the arms race to deal with the problem of world poverty, which would be a better way of bringing peace throughout the world?

Mr. Hurd

The hon. Gentleman's argument about dates is a thin one. The NATO summit will last for one day whereas the United Nations special session will sit for five weeks. Many people, including my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, plan to go to both.

Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

Will my right hon. Friend say something more about the shape of the session? Does he see its purpose as being to deal with particular hot-spots around the world or to try to take a global view of disarmament?

Mr. Hurd

Certainly the second. The preparations are still continuing. We have tabled with some of our friends a draft programme for comprehensive disarmament that we think is realistic. We are discussing it with others who have other ideas and we hope that it will be possible to reach agreement at the special session on a framework that will act as a spur and a stimulus to the different negotiations on arms control and disarmament that are taking place and are in prospect.

Mr. George Robertson

The House will commend the Prime Minister on her decision personally to attend the United Nations special session, although it may have some reservations about the fact that during the five-week session there will be no Forign Office Minister in attendance with the right hon. Lady. The House will hope that she will use the occasion, not for unhelpful rhetoric, but for exerting some political muscle to beak the deadlock that has been reached in disarmament negotiations. Will Her Majesty's Government use some of their influence to try to avoid the complications that will arise from the clash of dates between the Geneva summit and the United Nations special session, bearing in mind the widespread feeling on the issue?

Mr. Hurd

As I have tried to make clear, there is no clash. We intend to take a lively part in the special session. It will not be a negotiating occasion but it might give a stimulus to those who are doing the negotiating in the different places where that is happening.

Mr. Chapman

While I welcome my right hon. Friend's presence at this most important conference, can my right hon. Friend assure the House that the Government will bring forward fresh initiatives to encourage and promote multilateral disarmament? Will he ensure that the public are kept in touch? He must recognise that there is deep anxiety to see these initiatives stepped up.

Mr. Hurd

I agree with my hon. Friend. We take initiatives where we think that it is sensible and useful to do so. We have done so recently in respect of chemical weapons. My hon. Friend is right about public information. We have recently published what I think is a reasonable pamphlet entitled "Peace and Disarmament". We shall do our best in the coming months to take our full part in public discussion.

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