Dr. ThomasTo ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to discuss with President Gorbachev during his visit to the United Kingdom on 5 April, joint nuclear disarmament initiatives under the provisions of article VI of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. Article VI of the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons requires the parties to it to pursue negotiations on effective measures connected with nuclear disarmament. Since the United States and the Soviet Union possess between them the overwhelming preponderance of nuclear weapons it is universally recognised that the primary responsibility for negotiations falls to them. The United States and Soviet Union are currently engaged in such negotiations which aim at 50 per cent. reductions in their strategic nuclear weapons.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to discuss with President Gorbachev, during his visit to the United Kingdom on 5 April, joint United Kingdom-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics initiatives to implement a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty under the provisions of the 1963 partial test ban treaty.
§ The Prime MinisterNo.