§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress on the conference on disarmament in Europe talks.
§ Mr. RifkindDuring the seventh session of the conference, agreement was reached on a new informal working structure. We and our allies hope that this s significant development will enable us to make progress on the practical confidence and security building measures proposed in the working documents which we and our allies have tabled.
§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the conference on disarmament in Europe talks in Geneva.
§ Mr. RifkindThe conference completed its programme of work for 1985 on 30 August and will resume on 4 February 1986. Useful discussions have taken place this year under all agenda items. The United Kingdom has participated actively and constructively and we have tabled four working papers: two on chemical weapons, one on seismic monitoring for a comprehensive nuclear test ban, and one on the principal international agreements relevant to outer space. Limited progress was made in the negotiations for a total ban on chemical weapons. This will continue to be the United Kingdom's main priority at the conference throughout 1986, when the Leader of the United Kingdom delegation will be chairing the negotiations on chemical weapons.
§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made at the mutual and balanced force reduction talks in Vienna.
§ Mr. RifkindThere is no significant progress to report from the mutual and balanced forces reductions talks. During the 37th round which will end on 5 December, we and our allies have continued to explore eastern positions in the hope of identifying ways forward.