HC Deb 03 November 1992 vol 213 cc171-3W
Mr. Hutton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is(a) the current annual expenditure of the Zangger committee and (b) the number of staff in its secretariat.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The Zangger committee is an informal body. It has no contributory budget and member states finance their own involvement.

A member of staff of the United Kingdom mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna acts as secretary to the committee, which meets twice a year, in additional to his other duties.

Mr. Hutton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries are currently members of the Zangger committee; and what consideration has been given to expanding the membership.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The following countries are currently members of the Zangger committee:

  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Czech and Slovak Republic
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Russian Federation
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America

The question of which, if any, additional countries should be invited to become members is kept constantly under review.

Bulgaria, France, Portugal and Spain became members at the last meeting of the committee in Vienna on 22 October.

Mr. Hutton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the current policies of confidentiality relating to the work of the Zangger committee and the Nuclear Suppliers Group; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

In view of the substance of the work of the Zangger committee and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is satisfied that it is appropriate that they should discuss matters confidentially. The product of the two groups' work—notably, the lists of items which trigger safeguards—is, of course, made public.

Mr. Hutton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration has been given to merging the Zangger committee and the Nuclear Suppliers Group; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

There are at present no plans to merge the Zangger committee and the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Mr. Hutton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of his proposals to harmonise and improve export controls through the Zangger committee; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The Zangger committee is not an export control body as such. It is an informal international forum for interpreting supplier commitments under article III(2) of the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The United Kingdom will continue to play an active role in its discussions.

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