HL Deb 06 July 1954 vol 188 cc457-8

2.42 p.m.

LORD VANSITTART

My Lords, I beg to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the Soviet Government has now exercised its veto in the Security Council, and what are the records of the other members in this respect.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN OFFICE (THE MARQUESS OF READING)

My Lords, according to the information available to me, the Soviet Government have now exercised their veto sixty times in the Security Council, and the French Government once. China, the United States and the United Kingdom have not yet exercised the right of veto.

LORD VANSITTART

I thank my noble friend for these disquieting figures. "Sixty not out" is a large score. I presume that no measures can be devised to prevent it from rising.

THE MARQUESS OF READING

If there be any remedy, it would appear to lie not in the hands of Her Majesty's Government but rather in the hands of the Soviet Government.