Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to invite a representative from(a) the verification technology information centre (VERTIC) and (b) the European proliferation information centre (EPIC) to participate in the next meeting of his ad hoc advisory panel on arms control and disarmament.
§ Mr. MellorNon-governmental organisations, including VERTIC and EPIC, have been periodically invited to discussions on arms control issues with Ministers and senior officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This dialogue with NGOs will continue. I cannot at this stage anticipate whether these two bodies will be invited to participate in the next meeting of the ad hoc advisory panel.