HC Deb 01 May 1995 vol 259 cc45-8W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of Sate for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of the proposal of the President of the Russian Federation for the international community to agree by the year 2000 on a target date for the elimination of all nuclear weapons. [21349]

Mr. David Davis

We believe that progress in nuclear disarmament is best achieved through international negotiations. We do not think that it is useful or sensible to impose deadlines on these efforts.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Government has had with the Government of the Russian Federation concerning the proposal of the Government of the Russian Federation for the five nuclear weapon states to negotiate a treaty on nuclear stability and security; and if he will make a statement on the Government's understanding and assessment of this proposal. [21348]

Mr. David Davis

We have not had substantive discussions with the Government of the Russian Federation on this subject. So far as we know, the Russian ideas are still at an early stage of development.

Mr. Paul Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the entitlement of non-governmental organisations to act as observers to the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference(a) during its plenary sessions and (b) during the deliberations of its main committee. [21346]

Mr. David Davis

We welcome the decision taken by the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference that non-governmental organisations should be given access to the plenary sessions of the conference and to debates in the main committees of the conference.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom ceased production of fissile materials for nuclear explosive purposes. [21354]

Mr. David 'Davis

During his address to the non-proliferation review and extension conference on 18 April, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced that the United Kingdom had ceased the production of fissile materials for explosive purposes. It is not our practice to disclose details of past production.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the response to Her Majesty's Government to the proposal made by the Government of South Africa at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference on 19 April for the adoption by states parties of a set of principles for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. [21342]

Mr. David Davis

We have told the South African Government that we wish to give careful consideration to their proposal for a set of principles for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the adoption by states parties to the non-proliferation treaty, during the treaty's review and extension conference, of a time-bound framework for achieving all the objectives of the non-proliferation treaty. [21350]

Mr. David Davis

The many and diverse objectives of the treaty cannot be achieved simply by imposing a time limit on them.

Mr. Paul Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have put forward at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference for strengthening the treaty's review procedure. [21338]

Mr. David Davis

Discussion of possible improvements to the treaty's review procedures are only now beginning in New York. We will participate fully in these. We believe that regular review conferences should continue to be held at five yearly intervals in accordance with the relevant article of the treaty.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government supports the creation of a grievance procedure for the non-proliferation treaty; if the Government have responded to such proposals at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference; and if he will make a statement. [21344]

Mr. David Davis

We believe that the treaty's review procedures provide ample opportunity for states parties to voice their concerns about the implementation of the treaty.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on an adoption of states parties to the non-proliferation treaty, during the treaty's review and extension conference, of a time-bound framework for achieving complete nuclear disarmament. [21352]

Mr. David Davis

We believe that progress in nuclear disarmament is best achieved through international negotiations. We do not think that it is useful or sensible to impose deadlines on these efforts.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have put forward at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference(a) for furthering the objectives of article VI of the treaty and (b) for monitoring and reviewing progress made under article VI of the treaty. [21340]

Mr. David Davis

We have, either before the non-proliferation treaty conference or at the conference itself—issued revised positive and negative security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon states parties to the treaty; —announced that the UK has ceased production of fissile material for explosive purposes; we have also contributed to efforts to achieve early negotiations on a multilateral treaty ending the production of such material; —announced further reductions in British nuclear weapon systems; —indicated the circumstances in which the UK would be willing to enter multilateral negotiations on the global reduction of nuclear weapons.

We believe that five-yearly review conferences, held in accordance with the relevant article of the treaty, provide the appropriate means for monitoring progress under article VI of the treaty.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the response of her Majesty's Government to proposals made at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference for the decision on extending the treaty to be made by secret ballot. [21347]

Mr. David Davis

We have opposed such proposals. The NPT is a major international security treaty. Its extension is of great importance. We believe it is appropriate, therefore, that the position taken by individual states parties on that decision should be known to all. Accordingly, we believe the decision should be taken by an open rather than a secret ballot.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government support the creation of a standing consultative committee for the non-proliferation treaty; if the Government have responded to such proposals at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference; and if he will make a statement. [21343]

Mr. David Davis

We see no need for a standing consultative committee. We believe that the existing review procedures provide ample opportunity for states parties to voice their concerns about the implementation of the treaty.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the adoption by states parties to the non-proliferation treaty, during the treaty's review and extension conference, of a programme of action for achieving all the objectives of the non-proliferation treaty. [21351]

Mr. David Davis

We believe that at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference the states parties to the treaty should reaffirm their commitment to the achievement of the objectives of the treaty.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have put forward at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference(a) for furthering the objectives of article IV of the treaty and (b) for monitoring and reviewing progress made under article IV of the treaty. [21339]

Mr. David Davis

The UK supports article IV of the non-proliferation' treaty. The British delegation to the NPT review and extension conference is currently taking an active part in the review of article IV in the main committee dealing with peaceful uses.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the response of Her Majesty's Government to the proposal made by the Government of Germany at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference on 18 April for a ban on re-using nuclear weapons materials in the production of other nuclear weapons. [21345]

Mr. David Davis

We believe that re-cycling fissile material allows us to keep our stockpile of fissile material at the minimum level necessary to meet our operational requirements.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the response of Her Majesty's Government to proposals made by the Government of South Africa at the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference on 19 April for strengthening the treaty's review procedure. [21341]

Mr. David Davis

We believe that the treaty's review procedures provide ample opportunity for states parties to voice their concerns about the implementation of the treaty. But we are prepared to give consideration to the South African proposals.