§ 21. Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives he is considering in the various areas of arms control.
§ 22. Mr. Baldryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiative Her Majesty's Government are taking to stimulate talks to achieve mutual, balanced and verifiable arms reductions.
§ Mr. LuceWe are strongly committed to the pursuit of arms control agreements. We have already, with our allies, put many proposals on the negotiating table in Stockholm, Vienna and Geneva. We will continue to pursue proposals which make a practical contribution to progress in arms control; and to support the United States in its search for agreements with the Soviet Union at the bilateral talks which resume in Geneva on 7 January.
§ 27. Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role he expects the United Kingdom to play in the Geneva discussions on arms control in January.
§ Mr. LuceWe will continue to maintain close consultations with the United States and its other allies on the whole range of arms control matters, including those relating to nuclear and space questions. We hope the meeting between Mr. Shultz and Mr. Gromyko in Geneva will lead to agreement on how to carry forward negotiations on these matters. The negotiations will, of course, be bilateral.