§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider an experiment in which a laser beam weapon is used against a ballistic missile in flight would constitute a "test" of the kind precluded under the ABM Treaty of 1972 (strictly interpreted), if conducted by either the Soviet Union or the United States.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)It is not for us to determine whether any specific activity by parties to a treaty to which we are not a party is or is not in accordance with it. I would only refer the noble Lord to Article IV and Common Understanding B of the ABM Treaty, together with Annex B to the April 1985 US Department of Defense report to Congress, a copy of which I placed in the Library of the House on 24th October 1985.