§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, following the improvement in detecting and identifying seismic phenomena, he will take the initiative at the United Nations for the banning of all nuclear weapon tests.
§ Mr. TomlinsonHer Majesty's Government attach importance to the achievement of an effective comprehensive test ban. At present we believe the best prospects for practical progress are at596W the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament which will resume its work in Geneva on 15th February, with this subject given high priority. Complex problems remain which require expert study, notably verification of any ban. The United Kingdom participates in the group of experts established by the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament to study international co-operation in detecting and identifying seismic events. This group is a useful means of exploring what form the verification machinery for any comprehensive test ban might take.