§ 56. Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will ratify the treaty to ban the emplacement of weapons of mass destruction on the sea floor; and whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to work towards an international agreement for the complete demilitarisation of the seabed.
§ Mr. GodberHer Majesty's Government propose to ratify the Treaty when the customary parliamentary procedures have been completed. We expect this to be during this summer.
We consider the denuclearisation of the seabed to be the most important objective 14W of arms control in this environment. But we remain ready to consider any specific proposals for further measures of seabed arms control on their merits.