§ Mr. Warbeyasked the Lord Privy Seal on what date the convention authorising the Armaments Control Agency of Western European Union to inspect privately-owned armaments establishments in the territories of member States was signed; on what dates it was ratified by the United Kingdom, Belgium and Western Germany; and whether he will invite the Governments of France, Italy and the Netherlands to indicate when they will ratify the convention.
§ Mr. HeathThe Convention concerning measures to enable the Agency for the Control of Armaments to carry out its controls effectively, and making provision for due process of law, was signed at Paris on the 14th of December, 1957, by the Member Governments of Western European Union. This Convention was ratified by the United Kingdom on 2nd July, 1960, and by the Federal German Republic on 10th July, 1961, and by Belgium on 16th April, 1962. In the remaining countries the process of ratification is in hand. I see no need for any action by Her Majesty's Government at this stage.