§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards including a clause in a comprehensive test ban treaty that would permit nuclear tests to be conducted under exceptional circumstances.
§ Mr. HurdWe would expect a comprehensive test ban treaty, in line with a number of international treaties in this field, to include a clause allowing parties to exercise their national sovereignty by withdrawing if they decided that extraordinary events related to the subject matter of the treaty had jeopardised their vital national interests.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards including a clause in a comprehensive test ban treaty that would permit state parties to withdraw from the treaty after five or 10 years if they felt that further testing was required.
§ Mr. HurdThe conference on disarmament is examining many proposals, including on withdrawal from a CTBT after a certain period, but no decisions have yet been taken. We have made clear our desire to secure an indefinite, effective and verifiable treaty which bans all nuclear tests.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy regarding the choice of the implementing authority for a comprehensive test ban treaty; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdThe CTBT authority will need to implement an effective and verifiable treaty. It is too early to decide on the details of the authority's organisation and operations.