Biological Weapons Convention: Protocol Negotiations

HL Deb 12 July 2000 vol 615 cc30-1WA

Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress is being made on the preparation of the protocol to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention; when they expect it to be ready for ratification; and whether they expect it to enhance the prospects for the complete and permanent elimination of biological and toxin weapons. [HL3064]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The United Kingdom continues to play a leading role in the negotiations on protocol to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention as chair of the meetings on compliance measures. A possible eight weeks of negotiations remain this year and we are moving to informal consultations with delegations during the current session in Geneva in order to try to resolve outstanding issues. Ratification of the protocol can only begin once there has been successful completion of the negotiations. We hope therefore that these will be concluded before the agreed deadline of the BWC Review Conference at the end of 2001. The United Kingdom believes that a successful outcome will represent a significant addition to measures seeking the prohibition of biological and toxin weapons.