HL Deb 23 March 1977 vol 381 cc513-4

2.35 p.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 was the response of their representative at the Geneva United Nations Disarmament Conference to the draft treaty tabled by the Soviet Union for the banning of all nuclear weapons tests, in view of the statement by the United Nations Mission in their Note to the Secretary-General, Dr. Waldheim, proposing a generally acceptable compromise agreement on the observance of the treaty.

The MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)

My Lords, the British representative at the United Nations First Committee said on 29th November last year that the Soviet Union's proposal on on-site inspection should be examined seriously, but we were not convinced that their draft treaty provided the answers to the problems which must be solved before a comprehensive test ban is concluded.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, is this issue not becoming immediately practical? Has not the Soviet Union now agreed to verification and inspection? Has the Minister seen the statement which was issued by Mr. Carter last night, in association with the Prime Minister of Japan, which says that nuclear testing in all environments should be banned promptly?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, we are certainly in very close touch with the Administration of the United States on this as on other important matters. We are in full accord with their desire to see an effective ban on tests. The operative word for them, as for us—and indeed for the entire world—is "effective". We are committed, as are other countries, to full disarmament in the nuclear field, including a comprehensive test ban. However, it is essential that before such a ban can be effective, verification and supervision of peaceful nuclear explosions must, in turn, be effective. That is what we are working towards.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, has not the Soviet Union now said three times that it accepts inspection and verification? What is being done in order to ensure that that promise is effective?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, what the Soviet Union has said is in its draft treaty on the subject, particularly under Article 1(3). If my noble friend would like to look at this, I can let him have a copy.

Lord BROCKWAY

I have one, my Lords.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, if my noble friend has one he will be aware that the provisions for verification in the Soviet proposed treaty rest on an invitation from the challenged State, according to whether it is satisfied that there are appropriate grounds for inspection. Such an inspection: shall be carried out according to rules established by the inviting State Party". We do not think that that is a proper and effective basis for verification. Therefore, when my noble friend says that the Soviet Government have proposed verification a number of times, indeed they have, but it is verification which is dangerously inadequate for the purposes of a genuine comprehensive test ban.