§ Mr. Shinwellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what consultations he has had with the Federal Government of Germany on the subject of a non-proliferation agreement on the manufacture, control and use of nuclear weapons.
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§ Mr. George BrownProposals for a non-proliferation treaty have been discussed with the Soviet Union and our North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies. Discussions are continuing in Geneva at the Eighteen Nation Disarmament Conference. My noble Friend the Minister of State with special responsibility for disarmament has played a full part in this consultation and is at present in Geneva. Good progress has been made but considerable problems remain.
§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in seeking international agreement on a nonproliferation treaty, he will insist on the inclusion in such a treaty of clauses involving discrimination against any member of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. MulleyThere is inevitably a distinction in a non-proliferation treaty between nuclear and non-nuclear States. But none of the non-proliferation proposals which have been discussed would inhibit the free development of civil nuclear programmes by all States nuclear and non-nuclear alike.