HL Deb 23 March 1982 vol 428 cc925-6

2.43 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 whether they will urge reconsideration of the decision to hold on 10th June a summit meeting of NATO at which President Reagan will be present, in view of the opening at that time of the renewed United Nations Special Assembly on Disarmament which it is hoped that Heads of State will attend.

Lord Trefgarne

No, my Lords. As the Prime Minister has indicated, there is time for Heads of State and Government to go to the NATO Summit, which lasts one day, and the Special Session, which lasts five weeks.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, may I ask the Minister these questions: First, does not the failure of representatives from this country and NATO to attend the opening of this great opportunity to end nuclear weapons and bring about disarmament, show a deplorable indifference towards it? Is he aware that, when the World Disarmament Campaign mission went to Moscow, President Brezhnev gave a not unfavourable response to the appeal that he should attend the opening session? In the case of the visit of the Prime Minister, is it a fact that she is going in July, when the decisions on the Geneva Commission's recommendations will have been reached? I have seen an agenda. Who will represent us during the main discussions?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I believe that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has not yet finalised the dates upon which she will be attending the Special Session, but she certainly hopes to address the session when it is in progress in New York. As for the position of Mr. Brezhnev, I am afraid I have to say that he very often adopts positions which are of assistance to his propagandist views.

Lord Paget of Northampton

My Lords, has not the Special Session the most foreseeable of results? Everybody will agree on disarming everybody, except themselves, and is there really any point in our Prime Minister going?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, certainly, the Special Session will be an important event in the disarmament calendar. It will be considering proposals that emanate from the existing machinery in Geneva. But it is important to remember that the Special Session is, in fact, a deliberative occasion, rather than one on which treaties or other such documents will be agreed.

Lord Mayhew

My Lords, could the noble Lord say what will be the rank of the continuing head of the British delegation?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, the permanent head of our delegation to the UNSSD will, in fact, be the permanent head of our delegation in Geneva.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, can the noble Lord answer the question of my noble friend Lord Brockway, on who will head the British delegation? If the Prime Minister is not to be present, is it possible that his noble friend Lord Carrington will be present on the opening day? And is the noble Lord aware that some of us would regard that as an improvement?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, as I have just said, the permanent head of our delegation will be the present permanent head of our mission in Geneva.