§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will press, in conjunction with other European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, for the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in Western Europe.
§ Mr. Godber:No. Her Majesty's Government believe that nuclear-free zones in certain parts of the world could play a useful role in building up confidence, provided the appropriate conditions are fulfilled. An essential condition is that the creation of a zone should not conflict with one of the basic principles of disarmament, that the existing military balance in the area should not be disturbed. This condition would not be fulfilled in the case of Western Europe.