§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response was made by the United Kingdom to the criticisms made by the Nigerian delegation to the partial test ban treaty amendment conference in New York in January, about the failure of the United Kingdom and its two depositary power partners to meet its obligations under the 1963 partial test ban treaty to achieve a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe head of the UK delegation addressed issues raised by other delegations in his speech to the conference on 11 January which concluded the general debate. He made clear that we continue to observe our obligations under the 1963 treaty through our participation in the conference on disarmament, and that we have a requirement to test for the foreseeable future because of the contribution to deterrence made by nuclear weapons.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy position was expressed by the United Kingdom delegation to the amendment conference of the partial nuclear test ban treaty held in New York in January in response to proposals put forward for a moratorium on nuclear testing worldwide.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe head of the United Kingdom delegation to the conference made clear our position: because our security will depend for the foreseeable future on deterrence based in part on the possession of nuclear weapons, we have a continuing need to test our nuclear weapons to ensure that they remain effective and up to date.