HL Deb 18 October 1971 vol 324 cc427-8
LORD KENNET

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 whether the Soviet Government has informed them of any plans to use nuclear explosions to dig canals or divert rivers; if so whether such plans would be likely to infringe Article 1(b) of the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty; if so, whether the Soviet Government has raised with them as an original party, the question of an amendment of the Treaty under the terms of Article II(2).]

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, the Soviet Government has not informed Her Majesty's Government of any such plans. Such projects would constitute a technical breach of Article 1(b)of the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty only if, in being carried out, they caused radio- active débris to be present outside the territorial limits of the Soviet Union.

LORD KENNET

My Lords, in view of the probability that these allegations that one can cleanly and safely use nuclear explosions for earth shifting purposes arise because a number of nuclear physicists in Russia and America fear that they may shortly be out of a job, will Her Majesty's Government undertake to consult the House, if they receive any approach about the revision of the Treaty before they get into negotiation on that matter?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

Certainly, my Lords, I will give that undertaking willingly. As I say, we have not received any indication so far on this matter.

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, is the noble Marquess aware that recent underground tests of nuclear weapons have caused what is known as venting—the discharge of radioactive debris into the atmosphere—and is he not aware that it is much more likely that this will happen if nuclear devices are used for engineering purposes?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, that is certainly possible and it is why we want to watch the matter very carefully.