HL Deb 10 June 1982 vol 431 cc396-7WA
Lord Brockway

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will support the expressed determination of all states in South Asia to keep their countries free of nuclear weapons in view of the endorsement by the UN General Assembly of this objective, and whether they will initiate action by the Security Council to co-operate with the states concerned in establishing a nuclear weapon-free zone.

Lord Belstead

We would like to see the Non-Proliferation Treaty apply to South Asia as to other parts of the world. But the idea of a nuclear weapon-free zone in South Asia does not enjoy the support of all the countries in the proposed zone and we do not think it would be useful to suggest action by the Security Council.