HC Deb 20 May 1986 vol 98 c175W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will seek to ensure that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation gives a public commitment to no first use of chemical weapons; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stanley

All the members of NATO are parties to the 1925 Geneva protocol which prohibits the use of chemical weapons, although some countries have reserved the right to retaliate with chemical weapons against states which first use chemical weapons against them. All NATO countries are therefore in effect committed to no first use of chemical weapons.