Dr. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his departmental staff are currently employed on arms control and disarmament verification research.
§ Mr. MellorFourteen people in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office work either full or part-time on aspects of our arms control and disarmament policy which includes verification research.
Dr. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had any discussions with his counterparts in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America about the arrangements for intrusive verification by Soviet nationals at the cruise missile bases at Greenham common and Molesworth as part of the current arms control and disarmament negotiations between the Soviet and the United States Governments on intermediate range nuclear forces.
§ Mr. MellorThe details of the INF verification regime are still being discussed. The INF talks are bilateral between the United States and Soviet Governments, but there has been a continual dialogue between the United States and British Governments about all aspects of the negotiations, including the inspection arrangements. Any provision in the treaty relating to access by inspectors to the territory of the United Kingdom will have been agreed in advance by us.