§ Mr. HuttonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether it is intended that the Government of the United States will participate in the Anglo-French Nuclear Co-operation Council; and what discussions he has had with the United States Government on this matter;
(2) if he will make a statement on the function and organisation of the Anglo-French Nuclear Co-operation Council; and if he will place the documents relating to the establishment of this council in the Library;
(3) what matters will be discussed in the Anglo-French Nuclear Co-operation Council;
(4) if the documents relating to the business of the Anglo-French Nuclear Co-operation Council will be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. HanleyThe Franco-British Joint Commission on Nuclear Policy and Doctrine was set up in autumn 1992. It brings together senior officials from the British and French Foreign and Defence Ministries, reporting as necessary to Ministers. The commission has carried out a comparison of the two countries' approaches to the role of deterrence, nuclear doctrines and concepts, anti-missile defences, arms control and non-proliferation. Further joint work on these subjects is in hand. The focus of the commission's work has been to deepen the dialogue on nuclear policy issues between the United Kingdom and France rather than to arrive at agreed Franco-British public positions on those issues. It has not so far produced papers appropriate for placing in the Library of the House. There are no plans for the United States to participate in these bilateral discussions: we have similar discussions with the United States both bilaterally and within NATO.