HC Deb 24 April 1986 vol 96 cc221-2W
Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives the United Kingdom deputation will seek to take at the next session of the conference on disarmament in Europe, to be held in Stockholm.

Mr. Renton

During the 10th session of the Stockholm conference on disarmament in Europe, which opened on 15 April, the United Kingdom delegation, together with its Western partners, will seek to increase the pace of drafting on, inter alia, the notification and verification of a wide range of military activities. Drafting has made little headway so far in the face of Eastern reluctance to negotiate seriously.

Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken so far by the conference on disarmament in Geneva on the United Kingdom's paper on seismic monitoring of nuclear tests.

Mr. Renton

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Yns Môn (Mr. Best) on 12 February. As I made clear on that occasion, we regret that our paper on seismic monitoring for a nuclear test ban and our two earlier papers have still not received the critical attention they deserve.

Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the east bloc deputation has shown any recent willingness to advance the progress of the mutual and balanced force reductions talks by providing realistic details of its force levels.

Mr. Renton

No. Despite the constructive Western offer to accept reductions without prior agreement on force levels, the East continues to refuse to exchange information broken down to a level at which effective verification is possible.

Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the achievements of the spring session of the conference on disarmament in Geneva, and what initiatives have been taken by the United Kingdom deputation.

Mr. Renton

The conference on disarmament has established ad hoc committees on chemical weapons, radiological weapons and on a comprehensive programme of disarmament. Discussion on a possible mandate for committees on outer space and a nuclear test ban are continuing. The United Kingdom delegation has been playing a full part in the range of work at the conference but has been paying particular attention to the ad hoc committee on chemical weapons which we are chairing in 1986. The spring session of the conference ends on 25 April.