HC Deb 06 May 1982 vol 23 cc141-2W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the agenda for the United Nations second special session on disarmament will include an item covering the need to strengthen the peacekeeping role of the United Nations; and, if not, if he will propose the inclusion of such an item on the agenda.

Mr. Hurd

The agenda for the second United Nations special session on disarmament has already been settled. It does not include an item on the peacekeeping role of the United Nations.

The United Kingdom and other Western countries proposed the introduction of ideas on peacekeeping into the first special session in 1978. Discussion was, however, inconclusive. We are considering whether any practical purpose would be served by raising the idea at the special session.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the agenda of the United Nations second special session on disarmament will include an item on the international arms trade; and, if not, if he will propose the inclusion of such an item on the agenda.

Mr. Hurd

The agenda for the second United Nations special session on disarmament has already been settled. It does not include a separate item on the international arms trade. However, this is likely to be discussed in the forthcoming United Nations study on conventional arms, which is the result of a Western initiative.