§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his statement on the EU Cannes summit of 28 June, (1) when he plans to bring forward legislation to ratify the chemical weapons convention. [32155]
(2) on what grounds he signed a statement calling for the chemical weapons convention to enter into force without delay. [32156]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government remain fully committed to the chemical weapons conventions. Primary legislation is required to implement the convention in the UK and to enable UK ratification. Work is going ahead on the preparation of the necessary legislation. It is the intention of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in the coming weeks to publish a bill in draft for consultation with a view to introducing it as soon as parliamentary time permits.