Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy,Official Report, 12 January, column 796, on the non-proliferation treaty, what response he has made to the proposal by Dr. Lowry to which his reply makes reference.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe Department replied that it was not United Kingdom or NATO strategy to make premature reductions in defence commitments. There would therefore be no immediate diversion of manpower into tackling the problems of pollution.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has concerning the policy of(a) the Republic of South Africa and (b) Namibia towards the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe South African Government have expressed interest in acceding to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and we have made it clear that we would welcome a decision on their part to do so. With regard to the second part of the question, only independent states may accede to the treaty and it will be for Namibia, once independent, to decide its policy on this matter.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy towards the imposition of sanctions upon countries which transgress the terms and conditions of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
§ Mr. WaldegraveWe adhere strictly to our own obligation under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty not800W in any way to assist, encourage or induce any non-nuclear weapon state to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.