§ 11. Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future of the British nuclear test programme.
§ Mr. AitkenThere will be no nuclear testing while the United States moratorium continues and we will continue working towards an effective comprehensive test ban treaty.
§ Mr. SimpsonWhen the Defence Select Committee tells the House that there is no need for further nuclear testing and the United States moratorium shows that there is no chance of further testing, is the Minister not ashamed that the Government are making no commitment to the completion of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty 171 before the start of the non-proliferation treaty conference next April? Will he give the House that commitment, and is he not ashamed that Britain is the only nuclear power that is having to be dragged into a commitment to a nuclear test ban timetable before the conference starts?
§ Mr. AitkenWe are not ashamed of any such thing. The United Kingdom is participating fully and positively in negotiations to secure an effective and verifiable comprehensive test ban treaty. These discussions began on 26 January at the conference on disarmament in Geneva and we continue to participate fully in them.
§ Mr. Duncan SmithI acknowledge my hon. Friend's great skills in last week's announcement on the possible purchase of Tomahawk, but, if we buy Tomahawk, is there any possibility of its having any nuclear tipping?
§ Mr. AitkenNo, we have no intention of putting nuclear warheads on Tomahawk should its acquisition proceed.
Mr. William O'BrienWhen the Minister is considering future nuclear testing, will he bear in mind the victims of past nuclear testing on Christmas island and pay them compensation?
§ Mr. AitkenAs I explained to the House in a debate on Friday a week or two ago, there is no evidence to suggest that those who took part in the tests are suffering from a higher incidence of cancer or any other disease than a representative section of the population.