§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration has been given by Her Majesty's Government to the proposal by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for on-site inspection for verification of a comprehensive test ban treaty; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonFor a number of years the Russians have claimed a willingness to consider on-site inspections, but they are now making prior acceptance of a moratorium a pre-condition for such consideration. We welcome this willingness to the extent that it implies recognition of legitimate Western concerns on verification. But the demand for prior acceptance of a moratorium is unacceptable.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of any recent representations he has received from the Governments of signatory nations of the non-proliferation treaty regarding progress on the agreement of a comprehensive test ban.
§ Mr. RentonSince the review conference of the NPT last September, the only substantive approach we have had was contained in the 15 January proposals by Mr. Gorbachev, the General Secretary of the Communist party of the Soviet Union.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will detail the problems of verifying a comprehensive test ban treaty which Her Majesty's Government believe are still outstanding.
§ Mr. RentonI refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Mr. Eggar) gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ynys Môn (Mr. Best) on 11 December 1985 at column636.