§ Mr. MacdonaldTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that signatories to the chemical weapon convention should remain subject to controls exercised by the Australia group.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI have been asked to reply.
The Australia group harmonises national export controls by consensus. It is for each member state to apply its individual controls. The Australia group (AG) has undertaken to review its work to ensure consistency with the provisions of the chemical weapons convention. AG members, including the United Kingdom, have declared their intention to be early signatories of the convention. In this context, the United Kingdom will seek to ensure within the AG and nationally that we maintain effective controls against chemical and biological weapons proliferation.
§ Mr. MacdonaldTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy towards the continued operation of the Australia group once the chemical weapon convention has been signed.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI have been asked to reply.
The Government's principal objective is to prevent the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. The Australian group (AG) has played a major role in the 48W effort. All AG members, including the United Kingdom, have welcomed the conclusion of the CWC negotiations and have declared their intention to be early signatories. The work of the group is to be reviewed to ensure consistency with the provisions of the convention. The United Kingdom intends to take an active part in this review.