HC Deb 16 February 1993 vol 219 cc129-30
Q4. Mr. Cryer

To ask the Prime Minister when he next expects to pay an official visit to the United Nations.

The Prime Minister

I have no plans to visit the United Nations headquarters in New York in the near future.

Mr. Cryer

Does the Prime Minister accept that the Government's support of the United Nations is highly selective and that there is absolutely no case for the Government continuing to breach the United Nations nuclear non-proliferation treaty by the manufacture and deployment of Trident nuclear weapons of mass destruction?

Mr. Gallie

What about Rosyth?

Mr. Cryer

Does the Prime Minister endorse and support—

Mr. Gallie

What about Rosyth?

Madam Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman had better contain himself.

Mr. Cryer

Does the Prime Minister endorse and support the 150 members of the United Nations who have by treaty and declaration refused to manufacture and deploy nuclear weapons? If he supports those 150 nations and their moral superiority, why does he not follow them? Does he support them, yes or no?

The Prime Minister

My hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Mr. Gallie) drew attention to some of the inconsistencies in the hon. Gentleman's question. The replacement of Polaris in the mid-1990s is essential for Britain to maintain an effective and credible deterrent into the next century. There is nothing in the non-proliferation treaty to prevent a nuclear weapons state from maintaining the credibility and effectiveness of a minimum deterrent in this way. That is the position in law and it is our position in policy.

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