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Nuclear Non-Proliferation

Volume 174: debated on Wednesday 13 June 1990

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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specific actions have been taken by the United Kingdom in pursuit of its obligations under article VI of the non-proliferation treaty.

I have been asked to reply.We and our NATO allies fully support negotiations aimed at balanced and verifiable arms control agreements, which aim to enhance security at lower levels of forces. We are currently involved in negotiations aimed at reducing conventional forces in Europe, and welcome the prospect of a START agreement between the United States and Soviet Union.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action Her Majesty's Government have taken since 1985 to reduce their stocks of nuclear weapons in accordance with the provisions of the non-proliferation treaty.

Since the United States and Soviet Union possess between them the majority of nuclear weapons, prime negotiating responsibility falls to them. We fully support their efforts to secure a START agreement and welcome the progress made at the recent Washington summit.