HC Deb 12 April 2000 vol 348 cc153-4W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the International Atomic Energy Agency report GOV/1998/30, dated 29 May 1998. [118525]

Dr. Howells

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) document GOV/1998/30 contains the text of the Protocol additional to the Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the European Atomic Energy Community and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

A copy of the protocol was laid before the House on 31 March 1999 as Misc. No.21. Command paper 4282 refers.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals to strengthen international nuclear safeguards Her Majesty's Government will put to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty Conference in April. [118497]

Dr. Howells

The UK delegation will call for all States which have not yet done so to sign and bring into force safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in accordance with their obligations under Article III on the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The UK delegation will also call for all States which have not yet done so to negotiate, sign and bring into force as soon as possible a protocol additional to their existing safeguards agreement with the IAEA. These protocols will be based on the Model Protocol agreed by the Board of Governors of the IAEA in 1997. The UK delegation will point to the Additional Protocol signed by the United Kingdom, the IAEA and the European Atomic Energy Community on 22 September 1998, and to the progress of the Nuclear Safeguards Bill [Lords], which contains the legislation necessary to allow entry into force of the Additional Protocol, as proof of our commitment to this process, which is designed to strengthen the existing safeguards regime.

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