NEW MONTE BELLO ATOM TEST

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27987, 6 June 1956, Page 13

NEW MONTE BELLO ATOM TEST

Reply To Question In Commons LONDON, June 4. Sir Reginald Maudling, Minister of Supply, told the House of Commons today that atomic device successfully exploded on May 16 in the Monte Bello Islands, would be followed by a further test shortly. He was replying to Mr Arthur Henderson (Labour), who asked the Minister to thank the Australian Government for its help, in staging tests, and to congratulate Commander Martell and his team on the success of. the first part of the operation.

Mr Henderson asked whether the reply indicated a possible hydrogen test in the future and, if so, was it a fact that British scientists had reported that the sixth American and Russian hydrogen tests of the last three years had produced a radioactive fallout known as strontium.

“This is potentially most dangerous to human welfare and is it not time these tests were abolished altogether?” Mr Henderson asked.

Sir Reginald Maudling replied that none of the devices concerned was more than a few tens of kilo-tons of yield. Mr Emrys Hughes (Labour) asked how much money had been spent on these tests on the Monte Bello Islands. “In view of what the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been saying about the need for economy, how does all this expenditure fit in?” he asked.

The Minister ' replied that if Mr Hughes put down a question he would endeavour to give him the information asked. These tests were part of the general defence plans and had the support of the House.