Nuclear Weapons (Hansard, 13 July 1992)

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the other signatories of the partial test ban treaty of 1963, the nuclear non-proliferation treaty of 1970 and the threshold test ban treaty of 1974 to negotiate a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
None.

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to halt the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 3 July 1992, at column757.

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about progress being made for a comprehensive nuclear weapons test ban treaty to be negotiated.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
A comprehensive test ban treaty is a long-term objective. We participate actively in discussion434W of test ban issues in the conference on disaramament in Geneva. These take place on the basis of a non-negotiating mandate. Progress can only be made on a step-by-step basis taking into account a number of factors including verification.