§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the report of the Canberra commission on the elimination of nuclear weapons. [2931]
§ Mr. SoamesWe have noted the conclusions of the Canberra commission. We remain committed to the pursuit of negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to nuclear disarmament, as set out in article VI of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. But nuclear disarmament cannot realistically be pursued independently of the broader security context. We and NATO continue to judge that nuclear deterrence plays an essential role in maintaining peace and stability in Europe.