Nuclear Tests (Hansard, 23 October 1992)

§ Dr. Reid
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards a moratorium on United Kingdom nuclear tests.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
Rather than declare unilateral moratoria, we believe the right approach is to restrain testing to the minimum level necessary to ensure the safety and credibility of nuclear weapons. In our case, this has meant testing less than once a year.

§ Dr. Reid
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment of the potential impact of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty on the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons arsenal.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
We believe a limited programme of nuclear tests continues to be the best means of ensuring the safety and credibility of our nuclear deterrent.

§ Dr. Reid
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the maximum number of underground nuclear tests that the United Kingdom is permitted to carry out under the terms of the United States energy appropriation legislation.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
Three.

§ Dr. Reid
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions are placed on the purposes for which the United Kingdom may conduct underground nuclear tests under the terms of the United States energy appropriation legislation.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
None.

§ Dr. Reid
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the negotiation of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
We have always accepted the long-term goal of a comprehensive test ban, to be achieved on a step-by-step basis.

§ Dr. Reid
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment of the potential impact of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty on the prospects for agreement at the non-proliferation treaty extension conference in 1995.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
The case for extension of the non-proliferation treaty stands irrespective of the state of progress towards a comprehensive test ban.

§ Dr. Reid
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom will resume direct negotiations towards a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
When we believe it would be in the best interests of our security to do so.

§ Dr. Reid
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the conditions under which the United Kingdom may be entitled to conduct a nuclear test under the terms of the United States energy appropriation legislation.
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§ Mr. Garel-Jones
The Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act requires the United States President to determine that nuclear tests conducted by the United Kingdom are in the interests of United States national security.

§ Dr. Reid
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what alternative sites are being considered by his Department for conducting underground nuclear tests.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
None.