HC Deb 17 February 1969 vol 778 cc10-1W
54. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the West German Government is carrying on research into biological and chemical warfare, including work on the distribution of poisons by aerosol, he will request the West European Union Armament Control Agency to require the Federal Government to discontinue this breach of the Brussels Treaty of 1954.

Mr. M. Stewart

No. The undertakings of the Federal Republic set out in the Brussels Treaty of 1954 relate to the manufacture of certain weapons as there defined. The Federal German Government do not deny that they are engaged in research into protective measures against chemical and biological weapons, but we have no reason to believe that any manufacture of weapons in violation of the undertakings is involved.

55. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will adopt unilaterally the proposals on chemical and biological warfare put forward at the Geneva Disarmament Conference last August; and whether the Government will make a declaration to this effect and make provision for verification and inspection.

Mr. M. Stewart

No. Our objective is multilateral action by international agreement.