Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many preparatory committee meetings are planned by the depository states for the partial test ban treaty amendment conference; and what decisions have been taken by the first committee of the United Nations on the amendment conference;
(2) if he will make a statement on current progress in arrangements for the planned amendment conference for the 1963 partial test ban treaty; how the amendment conference will be funded; what states have been invited, and by whom, to the conference; and what administrative facilities will be provided by the United Nations in support of the amendment conference.
§ Mr. WaldegraveOn 2 November the depositary Governments of the partial test ban treaty announced that they had arranged to convene the amendment conference on 8 January 1991 for a period of up to two weeks. They subsequently issued invitations to all states parties to the treaty. Although not a United Nations conference, the amendment conference is expected to be held on United Nations premises, and using United Nations facilities. No decisions have yet been reached by the participating states parties on funding the conference. On 17 November the first committee of the United Nations General Assembly adopted by majority vote a resolution recommending a preparatory commitee in May 1990 followed by a session of the amendment conference, with a second substantive session in January 1991.