HL Deb 27 November 1997 vol 583 cc128-9WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider that the Greater Middle East should become an area free of weapons of mass destruction; whether the removal of all such weapons from Iraq should be accompanied by the removal of such weapons from all other Middle Eastern countries; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

We are strongly committed to the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), not only in the Middle East, but globally. We have consistently supported the idea of a zone free from weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. We have also urged all states in the region to ratify the relevant conventions and treaties on weapons of mass destruction.