HC Deb 06 March 1990 vol 168 c620W
Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure a sufficient supply of personnel trained in arms reduction verification.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The joint arms control implementation group (JACIG) has recently been established, and will begin forming in July. It will be the United Kingdom's arms control verification organisation. The primary role of the JACIG will be to conduct CFE (conventional forces in Europe) and Stockholm document outgoing inspections. It will additionally provide escorts and interpreters for the incoming Stockholm document, INF (intermediate nuclear forces) and CFE inspections into the United Kingdom.

Those personnel conducting the verification task will receive equipment recognition training, instruction in the treaty and its several protocols and, where appropriate, formal language training. Practice inspections will also be conducted to ensure that the JACIG staff reach and maintain the necessary national and allied inspection standards.