HC Deb 13 May 1985 vol 79 cc18-9W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the potential contribution of the advanced verification techniques set out in the threshold test ban treaty and the peaceful nuclear explosion treaty between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics towards the establishment of verification measures for a comprehensive test ban treaty.

Mr. Luce

Any consideration of how to verify a comprehensive test ban would naturally have to take account of the provisions of existing treaties on nuclear testing. The problems involved in the verification of a total ban on nuclear testing, however, are more difficult than in the case of the limited constraints which currently exist.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors prevent an immediate resumption of negotiations for a comprehensive test ban treaty.

Mr. Luce

It would be premature to resume negotiations while key technical problems, including those of verification and compliance, remain unresolved. We believe these should be discussed by the Geneva conference on disarmament and are working actively to get a nuclear test ban committee established there. We also play a full part in the work of the scientific experts group set up by the conference.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what degree of precision Her Majesty's Government require in the scientific monitoring of underground nuclear tests as a prerequisite for agreeing to a comprehensive test ban treaty.

Mr. Luce

Considerable improvements in scientific monitoring techniques are required as a first step towards precluding, under a comprehensive test ban regime, a clandestine continuation of nuclear testing at levels sufficient to confer a significant military advantage. This is one of the verification issues which, along with other Western delegations, we have proposed should be the subject of substantive examination by the Geneva conference on disarmament, with a view to negotiation of a treaty.