HC Deb 24 July 1985 vol 83 cc594-5W
Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the United Kingdom ministerial representation at the non-proliferation treaty review conference in Geneva in September; and whether the United Kingdom will be submitting any substantive proposals to that conference.

Mr. Luce

I shall lead our delegation to the conference, which I expect to address on 29 August. We shall urge the parties to reaffirm the success of the non-proliferation treaty in preventing the further spread of nuclear weapons and its consequent importance to the security of all states. We shall also stress our view that the treaty should be reviewed in a balanced and constructive manner and that it would be strengthened further if membership were universal.

Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by the Turbanski ad hoc committee, and its three working groups, at the conference on disarmament; and what part has been played by United Kingdom negotiators in the discussions.

Mr. Luce

The United Kingdom delegation to the Conference on Disarmament is participating actively in the work of the ad hoc committee on chemical weapons chaired by Ambassador Turbanski. Progress has not been as rapid as we should like. But encouraging consensus seems to be emerging on some issues in the working group: in particular on definitions of certain key chemical precursors, initial declaration of chemical weapons stocks and the prohibition of use.

Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response there has been at the conference on disarmament in Geneva to working paper CD/575, tabled by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Shoreham (Mr. Luce) on 12 March, relating to inspection of civilian chemical plants; and what action has been taken on papers CD/353 and CD/431, previously tabled by United Kingdom Ministers.

Mr. Luce

The details of CD/575 are still being considered, although most responses have been generally favourable. There are already signs that some delegations intend to build on this paper. CD/575 rested heavily on the encouraging response to CD/353 which is therefore now substantially overtaken. CD/431 remains on the table at the Conference on Disarmament. We are still waiting for a constructive Soviet response to the vital issue of challenge inspection.

Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the outcome of the 36th round of mutual and balanced force reduction talks in Vienna.

Mr. Luce

There is no significant progress to report from the mutual and balanced force reduction talks in Vienna. During the 36th round, which ended on 11 July, we together with our allies, continued our probing of Eastern positions related to their proposal of 14 February.

Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the western reponse to the eastern bloc proposals tabled on 14 February at the 35th round of the mutual and balanced force reduction talks in Vienna.

Mr. Luce

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman) on 26 June at column411, we are continuing to study carefully the Eastern proposal of 14 February, the East having rejected our previous efforts to break the longstanding deadlock in the talks.