§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what steps have been taken to implement the programme of action for nuclear disarmament that was signed up to in 2000; [103380]
(2) if he will make it his policy to restate the Government's commitment to the programme of action for nuclear disarmament that was signed in 2000 at the Non-Proliferation Treaty PrepCom in April 2003. [103379]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe UK remains fully committed to the Final Document adopted at the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Review Conference in 2000.
As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence explained in answer to my hon. Friend's question of 5 March 2003, Official Report, column 1041W, the Government has taken substantial steps in fulfilment of its nuclear disarmament obligations under the NPT. Since 2000 we have continued to make significant progress, including dismantling the UK's last Chevaline warhead in April 2002. We have supported Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones in Central Asia, South East Asia, and the Middle East. We also continue to press for negotiations to begin on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty.
The United Kingdom supports moves towards mutual, balanced and verifiable reductions in nuclear weapons. We have always made clear that when we were satisfied with verifiable progress towards the elimination of nuclear weapons, we would ensure that our nuclear weapons were included in any negotiations.