§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to enter into a bilateral agreement with France similar to(a) the memorandum of agreement on co-operation concerning nuclear safety and security between the USA and France and (b) the 1958 United States-United Kingdom mutual defence agreement. [40279]
§ Mr. SoamesI have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member on 16 October 1995,Official Report, column 37.
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§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on(a) Anglo-French and (b) Anglo-American-French nuclear co-operation of the memorandum of agreement on co-operation concerning nuclear safety and security between France and the United States; [40250]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the memorandum of agreement on co-operation concerning nuclear safety and security which France entered into with the United States on 4 June on the continued implementation of the 1958 mutual defence agreement between America and Britain, with particular reference to the transferral of information. [40278]
§ Mr. SoamesNo such assessment has been made. Bilateral nuclear co-operation between France and the US is essentially a matter for the two Governments concerned.