HC Deb 31 October 1995 vol 265 cc235-6W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to invoking article 142 of the Euratom treaty in order to bring infringement proceedings before the European Court of Justice against the government of France in respect of its nuclear testing programme. [40201]

Mr. David Davis

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 20 October 1995Official Report, column 264.

Mr. Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government(a) have taken and (b) are considering taking to protect the residents of the Pitcairn islands from the potential environmental effects of French nuclear testing at Mururoa and Fangatafau. [40196]

Mr. Davis

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 16 October 1995Official Report, column 18.

Mr. Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation has taken place with the residents of the Pitcairn islands on French nuclear testing in the Pacific. [40198]

Mr. Davis

The governor's office in Wellington is in regular contact with the Pitcairn island council on a range of matters. The council has not expressed any concern about French nuclear testing.

Mr. Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what scientific analysis has been carried out by his Department on the environmental effects of the French nuclear testing programme in the Pacific. [40200]

Mr. Davis

None. The French Government have given an assurance that the tests will cause no harm to the environment, and have invited experts to visit the area in order to verify this for themselves.