§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research is currently being conducted by his Blacknest verification laboratory into establishing a robust verification procedure to monitor a comprehensive nuclear test ban; and what resources are committed annually to such verification research.
§ Mr. AitkenThe Atomic Weapons Establishment, of which the Blacknest laboratory is a part, has been contracted by the Ministry of Defence to carry out work on the verification procedures necessary to monitor a comprehensive nuclear test ban. Expenditure on unclassified work in this area is likely to be about £1.5 million per annum.