§ LORD HENDERSONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received any official reply from the Soviet Government regarding the British proposal that the International Commission should be sent back to Laos, and, if so, what is the nature of that reply.]
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, no official reply has yet been received from the Soviet Government.
§ LORD HENDERSONMy Lords, can we take it that Her Majesty's Government are keeping up their pressure on the Soviet Government to get a reply? Because is it not a fact that until a decision has been taken either to bring back the International Commission or to accept the proposal for a larger conference of interested Powers no progress can be made towards bringing peace to Laos?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I very much sympathise with the noble Lord, but I do not know if he has tried pressing the Soviet Government.