§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likelihood of ratification of the CFE and START treaties.
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§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIt is difficult to assess the prospects for ratification of the CFE treaty while key issues concerning its implementation by the Soviet Union remain unresolved. These issues were set out in my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State's answer of 15 March to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill). The CFE treaty will not enter into force until it has been ratified by all 22 signatories. We hope that a START treaty can be signed later this year. Ratification will be a matter for the two Governments concerned.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Soviet Union concerning the CFE and START treaties.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe have made a number of representations to the Soviet Union about proper implementation of the CFE treaty. These include representations by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister during his visit to Moscow on 5 March, and at ministerial and senior official level, bilaterally and jointly with our allies. The START treaty is a bilateral one between the US and USSR and we understand discussions are continuing.