§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government have taken following the adoption at the recent United Nations conference on the relationship between disarmament and development of a final document calling for studies and planning related to a conversion of military industry to civilian production, and consequent action.
§ Mr. MellorWe are committed to the search for balanced, equitable and verifiable measures of arms control that maintain the United Kingdom's security. Given the small size of the Government defence industry and in the absence of relevant arms control agreements, we do not believe that a case has been made for consideration of such studies or planning by the Government.