§ Andrew RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to aid former Soviet states in the decommissioning of nuclear weapons, devices and delivery systems. [142280]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe Government published on 5 December the First Annual Report on the United Kingdom's contribution to the G8 Global Partnership. The Report details the work under way to address the nuclear, chemical and biological legacies of the former Soviet Union.
At the 2002 G8 Summit at Kananaskis in Canada, leaders pledged to provide up to US$20 billion over 10 years for a new Global Partnership against the spread of weapons and materials of mass destruction. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that the UK would make available up to US$750 million to fund projects in pursuit of these objectives.
Considerable progress has already been made as a result of close co-operation between FCO, DTI and MOD in conjunction with the Russian Federation and other countries of the former Soviet Union, Central and Eastern Europe as well as funding partners. The signing of bilateral agreements with the Russian Federation during President Putin's State Visit in June this year has helped to consolidate a firm foundation for the UK's programme of assistance.
The report outlines the specific projects in which the United Kingdom is involved. These include the dismantling of two Oscar class nuclear submarines and related projects; constructing a spent nuclear fuel facility, preparing the groundwork for the safe removal and storage of some 21,000 spent nuclear fuel assemblies at a former Russian Navy site, and constructing the infrastructure at a major chemical weapons destruction facility.
585WCopies of the report are available in the Library of the House. Further reports will be published annually setting out the progress achieved in the work being undertaken by the United Kingdom.