§ 16. Mr. Douglasasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement of Her Majesty's Government's policy on the re-opening of disarmament negotiations between the United States of American and the Soviet Union.
§ Mr. LuceWe welcome United States and Soviet agreement to begin negotiations in Geneva on 12 March on the whole range of space and nuclear arms. We fully share the objective of these negotiations which is to work out effective agreements aimed at preventing an arms race in space and reducing nuclear arms, and at strengthening strategic stability.
§ 46. Sir Peter Blakerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's latest assessment of the prospects for the forthcoming United States and Soviet Union disarmament talks in Geneva.
§ Mr. LuceThe Geneva talks represent a fresh opportunity for progress in arms control. We hope they will lead to agreement limiting and reducing nuclear weapons in the intermediate and strategic categories. We are also pleased that the talks will cover ways of preventing an arms race in outer space. As President Reagan has said, the negotiations will require patience and perseverance.