HC Deb 04 November 1993 vol 231 cc417-8W
Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Prime Minister what plans the Government have to declare a moratorium on British nuclear testing.

The Prime Minister

We have no such plans, but we have made it clear that we will carry out no nuclear tests while the United States moratorium continues.

Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Prime Minister what discussion he has had with the Government of the United States of America on making representations to the Government of China with a view to dissuading them from conducting an underground nuclear test; and what action he took as a result.

The Prime Minister

The United States Government informed us in September of their intention to seek to dissuade China from conducting a nuclear test. In the event, the Chinese conducted a test on 5 October. We have expressed our regret at this, given the background of restraint on testing by the other nuclear powers.