§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what examination he has given to whether the United Kingdom national authority under the chemical weapons convention will require additional powers in order to examine work and scientific research in the chemical industry.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe United Kingdom national authority will not have the role of verifying compliance with the chemical weapons convention, and it will therefore not require powers to examine work and scientific research in the chemical industry. Verification will be the responsibility of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), an international body to be set up under the United Nations' auspices. Primary legislation will be required to allow the OPCW to verify compliance in the United Kingdom.