§ Lord Jenkins of Putneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware that a detailed record by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows that the United States has carried out more tests than the Soviet Union and all the other nuclear powers put together; whether in these 1157WA circumstances they will join the Soviet Union in seeking to persuade the United States to resume negotiations for a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; and whether in the meantime they Will agree with the Soviet Union to place a moratorium on nuclear testing.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)We are not aware of such a report. According to SIPRI figures, the US had conducted 759 tests up to the end of 1985, while other nuclear states had conducted 764. We have not seen any SIPRI figures for tests conducted in 1986.
I have made clear to noble Lords, most recently on 30th April, the Government's views on the resumption of negotiations for a comprehensive test ban treaty. My noble friend Lord Trefgarne set out the Government's views on the Soviet moratorium on 17th March.