Arms Control and Disarmament Department

HC Deb 27 July 1977 vol 936 cc231-2W

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long the Arms Control and Disarmament Department has been in existence.

Mr. Luard

A separate Disarmament Department was formed in 1968. It became the Arms Control and Disarmament Department in 1972, when it also assumed responsibility for the Arms Control and Disarmament Research Unit—itself established in 1964.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what are the activities of the Arms Control and Disarmament Department.

Mr. Luard

The Department is responsible for implementing the whole range of Government policy in the field of arms control and disarmament, under the direction of the Minister of State with special responsibility for disarmament, apart from work connected with the mutual and balanced force reduction and strategic arms limitation talks negotiations, which is handled by the Defence Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.