ABM TREATY: DEFINITIONS

HL Deb 25 February 1986 vol 471 c1039WA

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are their definitions of the terms "Research", "Development" and "Testing" in relation to observance of the ABM Treaty.

Lord Trefgarne

As my noble friend Baroness Young made clear to the noble Lord on 24th October 1985, we are not a party to the ABM Treaty. Consequently we have no definition of the terms "Research", "Development" and "Testing" other than those contained in the treaty itself and statements by the parties to the treaty. Beyond that, perhaps I could once again refer the noble Lord to the April 1985 United States Department of Defense Report to Congress on the SDI, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.