§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of stockpiled(a) chemical weapons with blister, blood and choking agents and (b) bombs and artillery shells for the agents' delivery being held by Iran. [104783]
§ Mr. HainIn conjunction with other Government Departments we regularly assess the status of a number of countries' stockpiles of chemical weapons and the equipment associated with its delivery. Such assessments draw heavily on intelligence sources and we are therefore unable to comment further.
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the long-range ballistic missile capability of Iran and its effect on the balance of power in the region. [104997]
§ Mr. HainWe regularly discuss proliferation issues with Iran and have frequently expressed our concern about Iranian attempts to develop ballistic missile systems. We remain particularly concerned by Iran's development of the Shahab-3 ballistic missile. Such a system could pose a threat to stability in the region.
Iran is not the only country in the region to possess such technology, and we understand Iran's legitimate security concerns. Despite this we continue to urge Iran to refrain from the development of ballistic missiles.
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the progress made by Iran towards the acquisition of non-conventional weapons. [104996]
§ Mr. HainIn conjunction with other Government Departments, we regularly assess the status of efforts by a number of countries to develop or acquire weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. Such assessments draw heavily on intelligence sources and we are therefore unable to comment further.
Iran is a Non-Nuclear-Weapon State Party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. We continue to encourage Iran to respect these treaties and to comply fully with its obligations under them.
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Iranian President is in control of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence; [105000]
(2) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Iranian President is in control of Iran's security services. [104999]
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§ Mr. HainThe internal workings of the Iranian Government are a matter for the Iranian people. As far as our dealings with Iran are concerned, President Khatami is the head of the Iranian Government, with responsibility for all Ministries within that Government.
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the role of(a) the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and (b) the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security in acts of terror. [105001]
§ Mr. BattleThis Government condemn terrorism in all its forms. Any such specific assessments could only come from intelligence sources and would, therefore, be exempted from disclosure under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on access to Government Information.