§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to support membership of India and Pakistan of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty as nuclear weapon states. [46082]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe NPT defines nuclear weapon states as those which exploded a nuclear device before 1967 (before the Treaty existed). Notwithstanding their recent nuclear tests, neither India nor Pakistan has the status of a nuclear weapon state in accordance with the NPT. They cannot, therefore, accede to the NPT as nuclear weapon states.
The UK continues to urge India and Pakistan to accede to the NPT as it stands and without modification. All NPT states parties commit to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and undertake to pursue negotiations on effective measures relating to nuclear disarmament.