HL Deb 28 February 1996 vol 569 cc103-4WA
Lord Jenkins of Putney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made or will make a statement covering the use, testing. deployment, intended use and avoidance of further proliferation of nuclear weapons and whether they will seek a convention similar to that relating to chemical weapons to prohibit the development, production and stockpiling of nuclear weapons and on their control and destruction: and meanwhile whether they will undertake not to be the first to use a modern nuclear weapon in war.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe):

We have no plans to conduct a nuclear weapon test explosion and are working actively to conclude negotiations on an effective comprehensive test ban treaty in the first half of this year. Last year the United Kingdom made a substantial contribution to securing international agreement for the indefinite extension of the non-proliferation treaty (NPT), which is the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. In addition, we support the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the international export control regimes. Within Europe, nuclear weapons continue to remain a powerful force for preserving stability. We remain committed to maintaining a minimal nuclear deterrent and do not believe that a nuclear weapons convention or no-first use undertaking would be consistent with our security requirements.