§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's assessment is of the implications 435W for the long-term future effectiveness of the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. [133722]
§ Mr. HoonAs was made clear in the Strategic Defence Review, Supporting Essay Five, Chapter 14, we will, for as long as Britain has nuclear forces, ensure that we have a robust capability at the Atomic Weapons Establishment to underwrite the safety and reliability of our nuclear warheads, without recourse to nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosion. This approach is consistent with our continued support for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.