§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has that any countries other than the existing five nuclear weapon states either possess, are about to possess or plan to possess nuclear weapons; if he will name the countries concerned; and which of them are signatories to the non-proliferation treaty.
§ Mr. RifkindAll the non-nuclear weapon states which are parties to the non-proliferation treaty have undertaken not to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons. In 1983 (the last year for which a formal report was issued), as in previous years since the NPT came into force, the IAEA in carrying out its safeguards obligations did not detect any anomally which would indicate the diversion of a significant amount of safeguarded nuclear material for the manufacture of any nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices.
Many other non-nuclear weapon states, not parties to the NPT, which have significant quantities of nuclear material in their territory, have accepted IAEA safeguards on their individual facilities. However, these states have not undertaken to accept IAEA safeguards on all their peaceful nuclear activities as have NPT parties.
The existence in certain of these countries of significant nuclear facilities which are not subject to international inspection must be a cause for concern. Such facilities 436W exist in the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, India, Israel, Pakistan and South Africa. Of these, India detonated a nuclear explosive device in May 1974, although the Indian Government have always said that the explosion was for peaceful purposes only.
§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government will be making to the nonproliferation treaty review conference.
§ Mr. RifkindWe will urge the parties to re-affirm the success of the non-proliferation treaty in preventing the further spread of nuclear weapons and its consequent importance to the security of all states whether or not they are parties. We shall also stress our view that the treaty should be reviewed in a balanced and constructive manner and that it would be strengthened further if membership were universal.