§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration has been given by the United Kingdom and its allies to the use of an international inspectorate under the United Nations' control for purposes of verification under international arms control agreements; and whether any view has been expressed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on such a proposal.
§ Mr. LuceWe and our allies have always stressed the need for effective verification of international arms control agreements. On 12 March I introduced at the conference on disarmament in Geneva a further British proposal for comprehensive international inspection of civil chemical plants to ensure non-diversion to illicit military stockpiles.
No recent specific proposals for an international verification inspectorate under the United Nations' control have been made, but we are prepared to consider any 244W serious proposals which will improve the monitoring and verification of compliance with existing and future international arms control agreements.