HL Deb 31 July 1997 vol 582 cc83-4WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether a fusion weapon of about 0.1 grammes of deuterium-tritium would produce a yield equal to about 10 tons of high explosives; and whether the testing of such a weapon is, in their opinion, permitted under the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Lord Gilbert

The principle of developing a weapon employing only pure fusion has not, as far as we are aware, been proven feasible. The UK is not conducting any research on this and we have no plans to do so. Our understanding is that, were such weapons to be developed, their testing would be prohibited by the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Were it possible to effect the complete fusion of 0.1 grammes of deuterium-tritium, then it would produce a yield equivalent of up to 8 tonnes of high explosive.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider pure fusion explosions to be permitted under the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; and

Whether small fusion explosions ignited by laser or particle beam driven implosions are permitted under the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Lord Gilbert

We believe pure fusion explosions would be prohibited under the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Experiments involving controlled thermonuclear fusion, such as those with lasers or particle beam accelerators, do not constitute an explosion and are not prohibited by the Treaty. These experiments are important to civil nuclear research into future energy sources, and to the responsible management of nuclear weapon stockpiles over time in the absence of nuclear testing.