HL Deb 31 March 1999 vol 599 cc58-9WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have now been able to examine the evidence that the Al-Shifa plant in Sudan was being used for the production of chemical weapons material; and whether the evidence they have is limited to statements made to them by the United States Administration. [HL1677]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

It is established practice under Section 1(c) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose or discuss information received in confidence from foreign Governments.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they accept (a) the opinion expressed by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency that "Iraq is completely free of nuclear weapons and that it does not at present have the practical and technical ability or the materials to make nuclear weapons" and (b) his statement that Israel has "the biggest nuclear reactors for making atomic weapons which the IAEA doesn't have the authority to control". [HL1680]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) reportedly made these remarks during an interview with the Jordanian newspaperAl-Arab al-Yawm, published on 9 March.

The IAEA has confirmed that its assessment of Iraq's nuclear capability remains as stated in its 8 February report to the President of the United Nations Security Council (GOV/INF/1999/4 of 24 February 1999). It states that while Iraq retains no significant nuclear capability, it notes some outstanding questions and areas of concern (failure by Iraq to supply documentation in support of its declarations; to provide a full account of external assistance to its nuclear programme; or to enact required legislation prohibiting work on WMD). The report also notes that IAEA has been unable to conduct inspections in Iraq since 16 December, and hence can provide no assurance that Iraq is in compliance with relevant SCRs.

The IAEA Secretariat has told us that the Director General did not make the reported remarks about Israel.