§ 7. Miss Julie Kirkbride. (Bromsgrove)What recent reports he has received concerning the development of weapons of mass destruction by (a) Iraq and (b) Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement. [117885]
§ The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon)Since inspectors from the United Nations Special Commission were expelled from Iraq in December 1998, we have continued to monitor the situation there. We remain concerned that the development of weapons of mass destruction programmes is taking place. We therefore strongly support the early deployment of the United Nation's monitoring verification and inspection commission in Iraq.
The Government receive declarations and reports about a number of other countries, including the former republic of Yugoslavia, concerning weapons of mass destruction, and continue to monitor developments.
§ Miss KirkbrideI am sure that the House will agree that what the Minister has just described is extremely worrying for the prospects of nuclear proliferation. What is the Department's view of the anti-ballistic missile system being developed by the United States? If the Department considers that to be a good idea, why is he not working with the United States to provide that defence umbrella for the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. HoonWe are in regular dialogue with the United States about that but, unless and until the United States decides to employ the system, there is little that I can say to the hon. Lady to resolve her concerns. There is not much point in trying to anticipate the United States' decision on that matter.
§ Mr. Iain Duncan Smith. (Chingford and Woodford Green)Is not the Secretary of State avoiding the question? He must have a view, one way or the other. For example, we discovered recently that Yugoslavia has 48 kg of enriched uranium. We also know, from an institute in the United States, that Iraq needs only enriched uranium to make a nuclear device. The two countries have started talking to each other about just that. Is not it time for the Government to get off the fence and take a view, for or against the proposal? What are the Government saying to the US Government?
§ Mr. HoonI have listened to the hon. Gentleman carefully on this question, and he has an interesting approach to international negotiations. He appears to agree to requests before they are made. He rolls over before he is asked to do so: in those circumstances, it is difficult to see how he could defend Britain's best interests. In my experience, even performing poodles in circuses usually require an order before they do anything.