Mr. Hendersonasked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made in the disarmament negotiations, following the proposals put forward by the Mexican Government for a treaty for the cessation of tests to come into force at the beginning of next year.
§ Mr. HeathThe Mexican proposal was intended to facilitate negotiation on a nuclear test ban treaty during a period when some nuclear testing might still be in progress. My hon. Friend the Minister of State drew attention on 23rd July to the value of this proposal, at a time when the Soviet Government has announced its intention to carry out further tests. Negotiations are now continuing at Geneva on the basis of the eight-Nation Memorandum of the 16th of April, but there is nothing to report since my hon. Friend addressed the House.