§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the three depository powers under the 1963 non-proliferation treaty are willing to accept on-site inspection whenever it is unclear whether a nuclear test is peaceful.
§ Mr. LuceI assume the hon. Member is referring to the 1968 non-proliferation treaty, of which the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union are depositary powers.
We believe that the United States proposal of September 1984 for exchanges of nuclear test-site observers would be a positive step in the direction of improving verification arrangements under existing treaties which constrain nuclear testing. We regret that the Soviet response has so far been dismissive.
We also remain committed to achieving progress towards a ban on all nuclear testing, including peaceful 321W nuclear explosions, which we believe would be extremely difficult to distinguish from tests carried out for military purposes. The United Kingdom currently has no peaceful nuclear explosions programme.