§ Q4. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks in so far as British interests are affected.
§ The Prime MinisterProgress in these talks has been marked by close consultation at all stages by the United States with the United Kingdom and other NATO allies. Her Majesty's Government welcome the progress that has been made so far and hope that it will soon be possible to bring them to a satisfactory conclusion. Both the United States and the Soviet Union have expressed a positive wish to reach an early agreement, and it seems possible that the outstanding contentious matters can be resolved by further negotiation. An important feature of such an agreement would be the dismantling of certain nuclear systems and this would constitute an important contribution to peace and detente.