§ Mr. Oakshottasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement about co-operation between the United Kingdom and the United States Governments on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defence purposes.
§ The Prime MinisterYes. The Agreement between the United Kingdom and United States Governments for Cooperation on the uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence Purposes, concluded in July, 1958, has now been amended and supplemented by a further Agreement signed in Washington today. The text of the amending Agreement will be available as a White Paper this afternoon. It must, in accordance with United States law, lie before Congress for sixty days before it can be brought into force.
The Agreement contains provisions to enable the United Kingdom to buy from the United States component parts of atomic weapons and weapons systems, other than the actual warheads, and to 64W make possible the transfer of nuclear materials in both directions.
Her Majesty's Government welcome this Agreement as a further example of the practical working out of the policy of interdependence in defence matters between the United States and this country.