§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on the establishment of an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament(a) with and (b) without a negotiating mandate at the Conference on Disarmament; and if he will make a statement. [59148]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe believe that the Conference on Disarmament should focus on negotiating Fissile Material Cut-off, which appears to be the maximum extent of consensus at present achievable, rather than attempting to negotiate a convention on nuclear disarmament at this time. We will nonetheless play a full part in consultations as one of the CD Presidential Troika to examine further approaches to other aspects of nuclear disarmament.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's position towards the UN resolution, Towards a Nuclear Weapons Free World: the need for a New Agenda, currently under consideration by the UN First Committee on Disarmament and International Security. [59147]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe oppose the current draft of this resolution, which we have considered carefully, since it is inconsistent with maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent. We remain ready to support measures that will make a practical contribution to advancing nuclear disarmament.