§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the purpose of the meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group in the Hague on 5 to 7 March; who represented the United Kingdom; when the previous Nuclear Suppliers Group meeting was held; what plans were made for the next Nuclear Suppliers Group meeting; and if he will make a statement on the role of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe meeting of states adhering to the Nuclear Suppliers Group guidelines focused on the strengthening of existing nuclear-related export controls and possible expansion of the group. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Energy and the Department of Trade and Industry represented the United Kingdom. The last meeting of the full group had been in 1978. The participants in the recent meeting agreed to meet again in the future, but no firm date was set. The role of the group is to draw up and administer guidelines for the control of nuclear-related exports.