HL Deb 17 October 1990 vol 522 cc886-8

2.52 p.m.

Lord Jenkins of Putney asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they regard the articles in the Non-Proliferation Treaty requiring nuclear disarmament by existing nuclear states as being equally important as those seeking to inhibit the further spread of these weapons to non-nuclear and semi-nuclear states.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (The Earl of Caithness)

My Lords, the United Kingdom, as a depositary power, fully supports the Non-Proliferation Treaty. We consider all the articles of the treaty to be important.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl for that Answer. Will he tell us precisely what the Government are doing to pursue that article in the treaty which requires existing nuclear powers to disarm in respect of nuclear weapons?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I believe that the noble Lord is referring to a comprehensive test ban treaty. That is what lies behind his question. The answer is exactly the same as my noble friend Lord Brabazon gave to the noble Lord—that is something for which we are ultimately working.

The Earl of Halsbury

My Lords, what are semi-nuclear powers; who are they and where are they; and what degree of semi-ness do they occupy?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, when I saw the Question on the Order Paper, I too wondered what a semi-nuclear state is. I looked up the text of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. I can find reference to nuclear states and reference to non-nuclear states but no reference to semi-nuclear states.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, there are currently 141 signatories to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Is it not the case that South Africa, which has a formidable stockpile of nuclear materials and technology, has not yet signed? Can he say whether the Government have sought to influence that government to sign the treaty? Secondly, is it not the case that the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is short of resources at the present time, has a vital role to play? Do the Government have any intention of helping it?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, with regard to the noble Lord's first question, the South African Government recently stated that South Africa would accede to the NPT in the context of similar commitments by other states in the region. We therefore hope that South Africa will soon decide to accede to the treaty.

The noble Lord asked about the IAEA. I agree with him about the importance of that institution. As regards funds, I should like to look into that matter if he will permit me to do so.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, does the noble Earl recall that just yesterday he stated in answer to a question about Iraq that it was essential that Britain should retain its own nuclear weapons? If that is the case, can he answer the question asked by my noble friend Lord Jenkins? What are the Government doing —not thinking but doing—about implementing that article of the Non-Proliferation Treaty which insists that nuclear disarmament is an essential part of that treaty? What are the Government doing about that?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, although I stand to be corrected should he wish to clarify the position, I think that the noble Lord is talking about Article VI of the treaty.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

Yes.

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the noble Lord is talking about Article VI. That article refers not only to nuclear weapons but also to general disarmament. There has been a considerable amount of progress in this field. NATO has unilaterally reduced the number of nuclear weapons in Europe by 35 per cent. since 1979 and further cuts are likely; in 1987 there was a treaty on intermediate nuclear forces which is resulting in further cuts; and it is likely that a strategic arms reduction agreement will be concluded this year resulting in significant reductions in United States and Soviet long-range weapons. There has been the chance of a successful conclusion to the Conventional Forces in Europe Agreement. Those are the areas where the British Government have played an active role.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, I do not have the treaty before me but I think Article VII specifically requires nuclear disarmament by those states which already possess nuclear weapons. Irrespective of the comprehensive test ban treaty, what are the Government doing about implementing that article?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I covered that point to a large extent in my previous answer. We are working towards a reduction. We would ultimately like to see a total fulfilment of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.