§ 41. Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report progress on Her Majesty's Government's preparations for the forthcoming non-proliferation treaty review conference.
§ Mr. LuceWe are working constructively for a positive outcome to the review conference. Our preparations have included full and active participation in the three sessions of the preparatory committee, and close and continuing consultation with the Governments of other depositary states, the United Slates and the USSR. We are also actively lobbying non-parties to the treaty in search of increased membership to strengthen it further. In the last year nine states have adhered.
As I said in my speech to the House during the adjournment debate on 6 June, at columns 545–48, we think that, if the review conference is to strengthen this vital arms control agreement, it must conduct its review in a balanced and sensible manner. We ourselves wall shortly be providing to other parties to the treaty a United Kingdom report about the implementation of the treaty to date.