Chemical Weapons Convention (Hansard, 28 October 1993)

§ Mr. Flynn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government plans to ratify the chemical weapons convention.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
Legislation is necessary to enable the United Kingdom to fulfil its obligations under the convention. We intend to ratify the convention as soon as this legislation is in place. The legislation will be introduced when parliamentary time permits.

§ Mr. Flynn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries in the middle east have not signed the chemical weapons convention.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
One hundred and fifty states, including Bahrain, Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, have signed the chemical weapons convention since it opened for signature in January 1993. Of the middle eastern countries, only Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon have failed to sign.

§ Mr. Flynn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest date by which 65 signatories to the chemical weapons convention must have ratified the convention in order that it comes into force in January 1995.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The earliest possible date that the chemical weapons convention can enter into force is 13 January 1995. To achieve this 65 signatories must have ratified the convention by 18 July 1994.