Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Protocol (Hansard, 23 July 2001)

HL Deb 23 July 2001 vol 626 cc174-5WA 175WA

§ Lord Judd
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are their policy objectives at the Ad Hoc Group negotiating a protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention; and what would be their response to any reluctance by another country to accept the chairman's composite text as a basis for concluding the negotiations. [HL300]

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
Her Majesty's Government will continue to press for a successful outcome to the negotiations on a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. At the next session of the Ad Hoc Group, the UK Delegation will be working actively with the chairman and other delegations involved to seek agreement on a Protocol text that is acceptable to all. Given the leading role that Her Majesty's Government have played in these negotiations, it would be a matter for regret if any countries were eventually unable to join consensus. The Government will, however, work hard to avoid such an outcome.

§ Lord Judd
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What priority they accord to the work of the Ad Hoc Group negotiating a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention in ensuring that the convention is adequate to meet their assessment of the risks of the proliferation of biological weapons. [HL301]

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
Her Majesty's Government have taken into account their assessments of biological weapons proliferation in shaping their approach to the Ad Hoc Group negotiations and in the design of the key compliance measures for inclusion in the Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention: Declarations, Visits and Investigations. The Government have also drawn upon technical assessments of those measures which would help create increased transparency in order to build greater confidence in compliance. These assessments are based in part on lessons gained from an extensive programme of practice challenge inspections and visits. The Government will continue to press for a successful outcome to the negotiations on a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.