§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom was consulted in the preparation of the recent United States proposals for a comprehensive ban on chemical weapons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdHer Majesty's Government welcome and fully support the American proposals for a convention to ban the development, production and stockpiling of chemical weapons. This follows the tabling last year of a British paper on verification. We were consulted in the404W preparation of the American paper. We wish to make real progress in the negotiations on a chemical weapons convention in the committee on disarmament. We hope that the Soviet Union will respond positively to this new opportunity to rid the world of these weapons.