HC Deb 31 January 2003 vol 398 cc1081-2W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to encourage(a) India and (b) Pakistan to sign up to (i) the Test Ban Treaty and (ii) the Non Proliferation Treaty. [93426]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The UK supports the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1172, adopted on 6 June 1999, which calls upon both India and Pakistan to cease nuclear testing, to stop their programmes for the development of nuclear weapons and systems for delivery of such weapons, and to enter into dialogue to reduce (and ultimately remove) tensions between them. It also urges both states to accede to both the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty without delay and without conditions.

We regularly press both countries to abide by all the obligations placed upon them by this resolution.

Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last made representations to his counterparts in(a) India and (b) Pakistan on their nuclear weapons programmes; and what the response was. [93899]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The issue of the nuclear weapons programmes of both India and Pakistan has been discussed at many meetings at both ministerial and official level, particularly since the crisis last September.

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