§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make it his policy that the United Kingdom Government will decline to receive, consider or make use of any information or data resulting from the current French nuclear testing programme; [41494]
(2) if the United Kingdom Government have, at any time, made it their policy to decline to receive, consider or make use of any information or data resulting from French nuclear tests other than the present series. [41495]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotWe have neither asked for, nor been offered, information or data resulting from the current French test programme. The UK is not involved in any way in these tests. Data from French tests would not be directly relevant to our nuclear weapons. The Government believe that it would be irresponsible to rule out for the future any form of co-operation with any of our allies, consistent with our international non-proliferation obligations, which might help us fulfil our responsibility to ensure the safety and reliability of our nuclear deterrent.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions and on what dates, aircraft carrying(a) supplies and (b) nuclear materials to the French nuclear test site at Muroroa Atoll in the South Pacific have been authorised to use United Kingdom airspace since June of this current year. [42064]
§ Mr. SoamesI know of no such flights in United Kingdom airspace.