HC Deb 27 June 1996 vol 280 cc197-8W
Mr. Robin Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Ambassador Ramaker's proposal that a comprehensive test ban treaty should enter into force after five years if 75 states have signed and ratified it. [34753]

Mr. David Davis

Her Majesty's Government's position is that, for it to be a fully effective non-proliferation measure, the comprehensive test ban treaty must have as parties the declared nuclear-weapon states and all other states with a nuclear capability and which are not otherwise prevented from testing by other international agreements to which they are parties. The formula proposed by Ambassador Ramaker on 20 June, but not incorporated into his revised text, does not meet this requirement.

Mr. Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment of the implications for international security of a lengthy delay in the entry into force of a comprehensive test ban treaty. [34754]

Mr. Davis

We believe that the earliest practicable entry into force of the treaty on the basis of universal adherence would best serve the interests of international security.

Mr. Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on whether the 37 states with seismic stations or radionuclide laboratories must sign and ratify a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty before it enters into force; and what is the reason for this policy. [34755]

Mr. Davis

Her Majesty's Government's position is that, for it to be a fully effective non-proliferation measure, the comprehensive test ban treaty should have as parties the declared nuclear-weapon states and all other states which are not otherwise prevented from testing by other international agreements to which they are parties. The formula referred to in the question, which appears in the chairman's draft text, meets these requirements and is therefore acceptable to the United Kingdom.

Mr. Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the verification procedures as outlined in the draft comprehensive test ban treaty will come into effect only once the treaty has entered into force. [34756]

Mr. Davis

Once the treaty has been opened for signature, a preparatory committee will be established in order to make the necessary arrangements for the treaty organisation and the verification regime. This work can be expected to take at least two to three years. These arrangements must be complete before the treaty enters into force. Equally, entry into force is self-evidently necessary before the verification system can be operational.

Mr. Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on allowing a comprehensive test ban treaty to enter into force before India, Pakistan and Israel have signed the treaty; and if he will make a statement. [34757]

Mr. Davis

I refer the right hon. Member to my earlier answer.