§ Mr. AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent international conference on chemical weapons in Paris.
§ Mr. EggarWe played an active part in this conference to which the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave), led the United Kingdom delegation.
We particularly welcome the concluding conference declaration which was adopted by consensus by all 149 States participating. It specifically recognises the important and continuing validity of the 1925 Geneva protocol and contains an undertaking by all not to use CW. It also expresses support for the Geneva negotiations for a global ban on CW, and the role of the UN Secretary-General in investigating allegations of use.
The successful outcome of the conference represents a considerable step forward in international efforts to eliminate chemical weapons. We now have to build on this.