HL Deb 05 June 1973 vol 343 cc10-1

2.58 p.m.

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 what steps they have taken or will take to induce France to join in the negotiations at the Committee of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, and for Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions in Vienna, which alone may in due course make it unnecessary for any country to test nuclear weapons.

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, the French Government is aware that Her Majesty's Government consider that all nuclear Powers should be involved in the consideration of disarmament measures in the nuclear field. Whether France should take part in these negotiations, and in the discussions on mutual and balanced force reductions, is for the French Government to decide.

LORD KENNET

My Lords, when we get such reminders as we are getting in these days, with the French test in the Pacific, of the fact that France is not doing anything towards reaching a lower level of armaments which might enable them—and indeed us, later on—to do without nuclear weapons, should we not take the opportunity of telling the French Government, with special emphasis, what the noble Baroness has just said?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, I think that they are well aware of our views over a period of time.

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, would not the Minister agree that although, of course, it is a matter for the French Government to decide these things there is room for some very strong diplomatic pressure to be brought upon the French, both in respect of the proposed nuclear test in the Pacific and also in respect of the conferences mentioned in my noble friend's Question? Will the Government bring that diplomatic pressure to bear?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, we said that we should very much welcome the French Government's taking part in the M.B.F.R. negotiations. So far as the nuclear test in the Pacific is concerned, we also passed on to them the communique from the Pacific Powers.