§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will press for the inclusion of fuel-air explosives in the United Nations register of conventional arms; [15873]
(2) if he will press for the inclusion of airborne early warning and reconnaissance aircraft in the United Nations register of conventional arms; [15875]
(3) if he will press for the inclusion of land mines in the United Nations register of conventional arms; [15871]
(4) if he will press for the inclusion of small arms in the United Nations register of conventional arms; [15872]
(5) if he will press for the inclusion of submersibles in the United Nations register of conventional arms. [15874]
§ Mr. SoamesThe seven current categories of equipment subject to reporting in the UN register were chosen to reflect the register"s aim of identifying excessive and destabilising build-ups of major, conventional offensive weapon systems. An international group of governmental experts met last summer to discuss the operation of the register and ways in which it might be developed. Adding further categories of equipment to the seven already covered by the register was discussed, but there was no consensus for change. A United Nations resolution on transparency in armaments of December 1994 requests the Secretary General, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts to be convened in 1997, to prepare a report on the continuing operation of the register and its further development. In the meantime we shall direct our efforts at ensuring the continued successful operation of the register in its current form.
§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of battle tanks; [15877]
(2) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusions in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of policies and regulations concerning arms transfers; [15879]
(3) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of military holdings; [15881]
(4) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of warships; [15883]
750W(5) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusions in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of combat aircraft; [15885]
(6) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of armoured combat vehicles; [15878]
(7) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of procurement through national production; [15880]
(8) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of missiles and missile launchers. [15882]
(9) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of attack helicopters; [15884]
(10) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of large calibre artillery systems. [15886]
§ Mr. SoamesCopies of the United Kingdom returns to the UN register of conventional arms for 1992 and 1993 have been placed in the Library of the House. Each return includes information on the imports and exports of equipment in the seven categories covered by the register. The seven categories are: battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships and missiles and missile launchers. The UK return also includes information on national military holdings and procurement through national production in the seven categories and a statement of procurement and export policies. The UK return for 1994 is due to be submitted to the United Nations by 30 April. A copy of the return will be placed in the Library of the House when it is submitted.
§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence who the British representatives are on the group of experts set up to review the operation of the United Nations register of conventional arms. [15876]
§ Mr. SoamesAn international group of governmental experts met last summer to discuss the operation of the register and ways in which it might be developed. The UK representative on the group was the director of the proliferation and arms control secretariat from the Ministry of Defence. There is no standing group of experts, but it was agreed that a similar group should be formed when the UN next reviews the operation of the register in 1997.