HC Deb 08 June 1990 vol 173 cc736-7W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of countries other than the existing six nuclear weapons states which either possess, are about to possess or plan to possess nuclear weapons; if he will name the countries concerned; and which of them are signatories to the non-proliferation treaty.

Mr. Waldegrave

There are five nuclear weapons states (NWS), of which three are signatories of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). There are six states not parties to the NPT (Argentina, Brazil, India. Israel, Pakistan and South Africa) which have significant unsafeguarded nuclear activities, though none has declared itself to have or to be seeking nuclear weapons. North Korea, which is not recognised as a state by Her Majesty's Government, has acceded to the NPT, but has so far failed to conclude a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), although it also has significant nuclear facilities.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government will be making to the non-proliferation treaty review conference.

Mr. Waldegrave

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 9 May to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) at column181.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest information on the status of military nuclear developments in Brazil.

Mr. Waldegrave

Although not a party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT), Brazil has signed and ratified the treaty of Tlatelolco which bans nuclear weapons in South America.

The Brazilian constitution introduced in October 1988 provides that Brazil's nuclear activities are to be for peaceful purposes only. However, there are some unsafeguarded nuclear activities in Brazil which appear to be concentrating on the use of nuclear propulsion for submarines.