§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will promote the proposition of an international treaty against missile proliferation. [48303]
§ Mr. Tony LloydMembers of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), of which the UK is a founder member, discussed the merits of an international treaty against missile proliferation in September 1995. They concluded that there were insuperable difficulties in achieving such a treaty. These included the gaining of a widespread international agreement, reaching consensus to determine which missile systems should be controlled by the treaty, and achieving a credible multilateral verification process.
The UK remains committed to tackling missile non-proliferation through the MTCR as outlined in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on 16 June 1998, Official Report, columns 196–97.
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§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Her Majesty's Government are doing to encourage(a) Brazil, (b) Cuba, (c) Israel, (d) India and (e) Pakistan to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty; and when he expects them to do so. [48302]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe are delighted that, on 1 July, the Brazilian Congress approved Brazil's accession to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. It now remains for the relevant instrument of ratification to be drawn up and deposited.
We continue, both bilaterally and in all relevant international forums to urge the remaining four non-NPT signatories to accede to the Treaty at the earliest possible date.
§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy that the Non-Proliferation Treaty should continue in force indefinitely.[48333]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty decided that, as the majority of States party supported its indefinite extension, the Treaty should continue in force indefinitely. The UK fully supports this decision.