§ Q56. Mr. Lathamasked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the latest position regarding disarmament negotiations in which the United Kingdom is directly involved; and whether any early progress is envisaged.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Geneva conference on disarmament reconvened on June 11. With our Allies we shall be pressing in particular for progress on key verification issues in the negotiations for a worldwide chemical weapons ban. At the MBFR talks in Vienna, an Eastern proposal was tabled earlier this year. This is now being studied carefully. The Stockholm conference on disarmament in Europe is now in its sixth session. We and our Allies are participating in detailed discussion of the proposals tabled with the aim of reaching agreement on practical confidence and security building measures. The prospects for progress in these negotiations will depend on the willingness of all other participants to agree on the necessity for balanced and verifiable measures.