§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make it his policy to invite the submission of evidence from those scientists in the United Kingdom who claim that a comprehensive test ban treaty is adequately verifiable; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make it his policy to convene a conference of scientific opinion in the United Kingdom on the issue of seismic and other means of verifying a comprehensive test ban; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeThe Government are advised by their own experts in seismology and other matters related to the verification of a comprehensive test ban. Work carried out by others in these fields is also monitored. There is, therefore, no need for the Government to invite evidence or convene a conference on these issues. The Government believe, however, that these need to be addressed at the Geneva conference on disarmament, and have proposed a mandate for an ad hoc committee to do so. Regrettably, others have not accepted it.