HL Deb 30 January 1978 vol 388 cc577-8

2.45 p.m.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the suggestion of Mr. Desai, the Prime Minister of India, that the United Kingdom should act as a mediator between the USA and the USSR to secure real cuts in Soviet and American stockpiles of nuclear and other weapons, and to facilitate agreement on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, although Mr. Desai linked the question of Indian acceptance of safeguards with progress on a comprehensive test ban and other curbs on the nuclear arms race, he did not specifically call on the United Kingdom to mediate between the United States and the Soviet Union. Progress in limiting and reducing nuclear weapons is a supremely important goal. It is the object of the strategic arms limitation talks between the United States and the Soviet Union, which Her Majesty's Government greatly hope will succeed. Curbing the nuclear arms race is also a major aim in our tripartite negotiations with those two Powers on a comprehensive nuclear test ban.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, would the Minister agree that the Prime Minister, on his visit to India, made a break-through in the deadlock between India and the USA and the Soviet Union regarding the non-proliferation treaty? Did Mr. Desai not indicate that he would be prepared to co-operate if there was a universal test ban, no addition to nuclear weapons and an agreement to the phased reduction of weapons? Have the Governments of the United States of America and the USSR been informed of this proposal by Mr. Desai?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I have no doubt that the Governments of the two Powers which my noble friend has mentioned are well aware of Mr. Desai's views and, indeed, of his proposals. They are similarly aware of our views and our suggestions in what I may call a beneficent, interventive (my noble friend might call it mediative) role. As to the reference my noble friend made to our Prime Minister, I think we would all agree that during his visit to the sub-continent the Prime Minister contributed in an historic way not only to the maintenance and the improvement of Anglo-Indian relations but also to the peace of the world.