I am concerned at the slow progress of the various treaties that aim to reduce nuclear weapons world-wide. Our government, I am glad to see, has constantly stated its desire for nuclear disarmament, and I feel it is regrettable that we do not take a firmer lead in this.

  It has been good to see the UK putting pressure on the US to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and that we are planning to use Aldermaston to develop monitoring of the treaties. But this is not enough. We should not be allowing the US to use its base at Menwith in connection with the Ballistic Missile Defence System, which contravenes the ABM Treaty.

  Above all, we should be taking every opportunity to help along the process of international nuclear disarmament and we should not vote against any initiatives that are designed towards this end. Such actions would be welcomed by a substantial majority of people in Britain, 85 per cent of whom, it is said, reject nuclear weapons.