HC Deb 19 July 1999 vol 335 cc432-3W
Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards an agreed formula for negotiations in the current session of the Conference on Disarmament on a Fissile Material Treaty; and if Russia remains a participating country. [91730]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

We regret that the Conference on Disarmament has been unable to agree a work programme which would enable negotiations to begin on the Fissile Material Cut Off Treaty. In May, together with France and the United States, we put forward proposals designed to break the deadlock in the Conference on Disarmament. We will continue to work for an early start to negotiations.

Russia remains a member of the Conference on Disarmament and will be expected to participate in negotiations when they begin.