§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the United States Government expressing opposition to President Reagan's proposal to produce the new binary munitions chemical weapon; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceNo. The United States remains committed to a comprehensive ban on all chemical weapons, and has tabled at the conference on disarmament at Geneva a draft treaty which would have this effect. We have welcomed this and hope that it will lead to early agreement, thereby leading to the destruction by all parties of all such weapons. Soviet agreement to such a ban and destruction of its massive chemical weapons offensive capability would obviate the need for the United States to pursue modernisation of its limited national capability.
§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to include arrangements in a chemical weapons ban agreement to include inspection of the private, civilian chemical industry as well as that which is Government-controlled; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceAdequate verification provisions should apply to all obligations incurred under a comprehensive treaty, including those affecting the civil chemical industry. In March 1983 the United Kingdom tabled at the conference on disarmament at Geneva proposals for verification of the production of certain toxic chemicals to ensure their wholly innocent use and non-diversion to military purposes. We intend to table further proposals shortly.