§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his time scale for the banning of the manufacture of Sarin in the United Kingdom. [17166]
§ Mr. HeseltineSarin is one of a number of chemicals, the production of which will be permitted under the chemical weapons convention only for research, medical, pharmaceutical or protective purposes. The legislation to implement the CWC in the UK and to enable the UK to ratify it will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time permits. The CWC will enter into force for participating states 180 days after 65 countries have ratified it. So far, 27 states have done so.