Nuclear Weapons (Hansard, 9 December 1992)

§ Mr. Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the new initiatives planned by Her Majesty's Government to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. mentioned in the pamphlet "Britain in Europe".

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
The Maastricht European Council agreed that nuclear non-proliferation was an area where member states might take joint action under the Maastricht treaty. Preparatory work by the Twelve has begun on specific initiatives that might be taken, to be completed by the entry into force of the treaty.

§ Mr. Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the specific new measures taken by European political co-operation during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council to strengthen nuclear nonproliferation policy of the European Community.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
During the United Kingdom presidency, the European non-proliferation working group has met twice. In addition to its general discussions, it has specifically decided, in order to assist the International Atomic Energy Agency in the discharge of its safeguards obligations, that the Community and its member states will provide to the agency, on a voluntary basis, additional information on production inventories and international transfers of nuclear material and on exports of certain relevant equipment and non-nuclear material. The provision of this information will begin next year.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with respect to adherence to the restrictions and guidelines set out in the series of International Atomic Energy Agency documents known as INFCI RC/209; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
INFCIRC/209/Rev.1 was published in November 1990 and incorporates amendments made since the original document was released in 1974. The document has no status in international law, but the arrangements it contains are an important contribution to the non-proliferation regime and are fully adhered to by Her Majesty's Government, who insist on full-scope safeguards as a condition for the supply of nuclear materials and equipment listed in the document.