§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made to(a) India, (b) Russia, (c) South Korea and (d) the USA on reducing their declared stockpiles of chemical weapons. [16688]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Chemical Weapons Convention requires states which have declared possession of chemical weapons to submit plans on ratification for the total destruction of their stockpiles, by 29 April 2007, in accordance with Article 3 of the convention. These plans are subject to review and approval by the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), of which the UK is a member. The UK takes every opportunity, both through the OPCW Executive Council and on a bilateral basis, to maintain pressure on the declared possessors to meet their CW destruction obligations.