§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's latest assessment of(a) the nuclear weapon programmes of (i) Iran, (ii) Iraq, (iii) Libya and (iv) Syria and (b) the earliest date by which (1) Iran, (2) Libya and (3) Syria could develop a crude nuclear weapon and develop the means of delivering a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile.
§ Mr. HanleyThe UN inspection teams found incontrovertible evidence that Iraq was developing a crude nuclear weapon and there is concern that Iraq could reinstate its nuclear weapons programme if current UN sanctions were to be lifted. As states which are parties to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty—NPT—Iran, Libya and Syria have undertaken formal commitments not to acquire nuclear weapons which we expect them to honour in full. The experience with Iraq has demonstrated however that membership of the NPT alone is not a guarantee of non-proliferation. We therefore take every opportunity both bilaterally and in international fora to stress the significance we attach to all states which are parties to the NPT complying fully with their obligations.
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§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's latest assessment of the number of air-launched sub-strategic nuclear weapons currently deployed by Russia.
§ Mr. HanleyAn assessment of the number of air-launched sub-strategic nuclear weapons currently deployed by Russia is complicated by the fact that many are being withdrawn from service and are earmarked for dismantlement. We estimate that a total of 11,000 to 12,000 sub-strategic warheads of all types remain, but it is likely that some are non-operational.