§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives he plans, following the Paris 145-nation conference on chemical weapons, control and disarmament to facilitate the framework for the formation of an international regulatory agency within the United Nations for the control of exports of chemical agents capable of being put to military use.
§ Mr. WaldegraveWe are committed to the achievement of a comprehensive global and verifiable ban on chemical weapons as the only effective means to halt the spread of these weapons and to ensure the destruction of existing stockpiles.
Pending the conclusion of such a convention, 19 western countries (the "Australia Group") meet regularly to exchange information and to concert action on export controls on chemical weapon precursors. Members of the group also circulate to national industries a longer warning list of other chemicals which might have relevance to the manufacture of chemical weapons.
576WSecurity Council resolution 620 of 26 August 1988, sponsored by the United Kingdom called upon all states
to continue to apply, to establish or to strengthen strict control of the export of chemical products serving for the production of chemical weapons".This reflected points made in the speech by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the UN special session on disarmament on 7 June last year.