§ Lord Brockwayasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will initiate discussion in the United Nations Security Council of the proposal to establish a nuclear weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in view of the fact that it is supported by Israel, Jordan and other Arab Governments.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)No. We believe that the most appropriate forum for discussion of the Middle East nuclear weapon-free zone proposal is the United Nations General Assembly's First Committee, where all the countries covered by the proposed zone are represented. This committee has considered the proposal in depth and in recent years has adopted a consensus resolution which defines the steps which should be taken by the states in question prior to the establishment of the zone. Until each of these states has taken action on these, there can be no real progress on this proposal.