HC Deb 29 November 1988 vol 142 c217W
33. Mr. Brazier

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on measures the Soviet Union is undertaking to maintain and increase its stock of chemical weapons.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

In April 1987 the Soviet Union admitted to the possession of chemical weapons and announced that the production of these weapons had ceased. The Soviet Union has subsequently indicated that it will destroy its chemical weapons according to the provisions of a chemical weapons convention which is currently being negotiated at Geneva. However, the Soviets have not provided evidence that would allow us to substantiate their claim to have ceased chemical weapons production.