HC Deb 30 October 1990 vol 178 cc453-4W
87. Mr. David Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made through the chemical weapons convention in achieving a comprehensive and verifiable global ban on the production, possession and use of all chemical weapons.

10 August Belgium To attend a European Political Co-operation meeting and a special meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers.
21 August To attend a Western European Union meeting in Paris.
31 August—5 September The Middle East (Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman, Yemen, Jordan and Saudi Arabia) For discussions about the Gulf crisis
8–11 September Japan For bilateral discussions.
12–13 September Soviet Union To attend the 2 + 4 talks on German reunification and bilateral discussions.
17 September Belgium To attend the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels about which my right honourable Friend has already made a statement on 15 October.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

There was some progress on technical and legal issues during the summer session of the conference on disarmament in Geneva for a comprehensive chemical weapons convention. But a number of key issues remain to be resolved, particularly effective verification. The United Kingdom report on our programme of practice challenge inspections, which my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs presented to the conference on disarmament in July, was well received.