HL Deb 18 May 1971 vol 319 cc210-1
LORD KENNET

My Lore s, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress there has been towards an agreement on a system of safeguards to be operated by the International Atomic Energy Agency for the enforcement of the Non-Proliferation Treaty; and how it is proposed the system should be paid for.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN)

My Lords, I am very glad to say that the International Atomic Energy Agency has recently reached agreement on the way in which safeguards will be applied in non-nuclear weapon States party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. This agreement is a significant step towards the effective implementation of the Treaty. The arrangements for financing the cost of safeguards have also been agreed, subject to endorsement by the International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference. These are somewhat complicated, but, briefly, the Agency's safeguards cots will continue to be met from the Agency's regular budget, though the method of assessing the burden on individual States has been adjusted to take account of the position of countries with lower per capita incomes.

LORD KENNET

My Lords, are the system which has been agreed upon and the method of assessing finance which has been agreed upon published; and, if not, will they be? Subsidiarily, can the noble Marquess tell the House anything about the share of the cost which would fall upon, for instance, this country?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, as to the first part of the noble Lord's supplementary question my impression, though I speak subject to correction, is that these will be published after the General Conference. As for the second part of the noble Lord's supplementary question, as I explained to him the financial arrangements are very complicated, but it is estimated that by 1975 the United Kingdom's share of the total budget of the I.A.E.A. will be something in the region of 6 per cent., or perhaps just over.

LORD KENNET

My Lords, can the noble Marquess confirm that the system of safeguards is, then, to be adopted bindingly by an international conference before any draft of it has been published?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, I think I should require notice before answering that question, because I should not like to mislead the noble Lord on this point. But I will, if I may, let him know.