§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the failure of the negotiations for a compliance and verification protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Conference; and how he will respond; [14468]
(2) what he aims to achieve at the Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Conference. [14467]
§ Mr. BradshawFollowing the failure of the 24th Session of the Ad Hoc Group to agree a Protocol text, our aim is now to agree with all States parties, a Final Document at the fifth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention, in Geneva (19 November–7 December) that will lead to sustaining international progress on the further strengthening of the Convention. We welcome proposals that have been made for practical and effective measures to meet the biological weapons threat. We hope that these can be agreed at the Conference.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will be attending the Biological and Toxin Weapons Conference in Geneva. [14466]
§ Mr. BradshawMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary currently has no plans to attend the 5th Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention in Geneva.