§ 11.9 a.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAY: My 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 what is their appraisal, following the talks between Sir Denis Greenhill and Soviet Foreign Ministry Officials, of the Soviet Union's declared intention to further progress towards disarmament and peace through the SALT talks, mutual balanced force reductions in Europe, a naval agreement, a Five-Power Nuclear Disarmament Conference, concessions regarding Berlin, and a European Conference for security and peace.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN)My Lords, consideration of the wide-ranging and complex matters mentioned by the noble Lord has confirmed Her Majesty's Government's resolve to continue to work for a relaxation of East/West tensions in Europe. We, like our allies in the North Atlantic Alliance, attach much importance to progress in this field. We are studying recent Soviet proposals as carefully as we hope they are considering ours.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while welcoming the Minister's reply, may I ask him whether this does not open out a heartening prospect of modifying the East/West conflict, perhaps even moving towards its end? When Her Majesty's Government have considered this development, can they make a rather more encouraging response to what has been suggested from the Soviet Union, particularly 628 in relation to the proposal for a European and North American conference for security and co-operation in Europe?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANYes, my Lords. We very much welcome this latest evidence of Soviet interest in détente, and I can assure the noble Lord that all proposals that are being put forward by the Soviet Union will be very carefully considered in a most constructive spirit.