§ 2.45 p.m.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy 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 proposals they have in mind for the development of the detente between the West and East in the light of the recent visit of the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary to Washington and their immediate visit to Moscow.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)My Lords, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister made a Statement on his visit to Washington in another place on 4th February. I can confirm that he discussed East/West relations with President Ford and Dr. Kissinger. My right honourable friends have not yet returned from Moscow, but 6 I understand that a communiqué is being issued today.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply, and welcome the concord reached both in Washington and, it appears, in Moscow, particularly the endorsement of the idea of a summit meeting of the European Conference on Security and Co-operation. May I ask whether the Government arc giving consideration to the necessary machinery to follow up that conference, to implement the 26 items of agreement by the Commissions which have been sitting at Geneva?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, we are of course in favour of continuing the multilateral discussions within the framework described by the CSCE. After the conference, we shall want to seize every opportunity to work for the full and effective implementation of its decisions. Detailed arrangements have still to be settled.