§ Lord Jenkins of Putneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What further steps they are taking towards the elimination of nuclear weapons; and with which countries they are joining in endeavours to this end. [HL3551]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanHer Majesty's Government are preparing for negotiations which will begin in the Conference on Disarmament next year on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty—the internationally agreed next stop.
We continue to play a leading role in the international response to the Indian and Pakistani 55WA nuclear tests and care working with the states of South East Asia and Central Asia to establish nuclear weapon free zones.
We are also considering further ways to achieve progress towards nuclear disarmament, building on the steps we have taken in the Strategic Defence Review and bearing in mind the commitment by the Nuclear Weapon States to work together for the success of the preparatory process for the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, the conference itself and related issues.