§ 28. Mr. David EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the steps and initiatives he has taken to ensure redundant nuclear bomb-making material is properly stored, guarded and accounted for in eastern bloc countries.
§ Mr. Garel-JonesThe security of fissile material from ex-Soviet nuclear weapons is the responsibility of the Russian Government. However, we and our NATO allies have made clear that we are ready to help in various aspects of eliminating surplus nuclear weapons in the former Soviet Union. As part of a wider programme of assistance, the United Kingdom has offered to advise on the safe handling, storage and conversion of fissile material. We also continue to emphasise the importance we attach to early accession to the non-proliferation treaty and application of IAEA safeguards to nuclear materials by all non-Russian republics.