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India

Volume 455: debated on Monday 15 January 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK Government’s position is on the recent US nuclear deal with India; what assessment she has made on whether the deal has any implications for nuclear proliferation; and if she will make a statement. (115277)

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 2 March last year, we warmly welcome the agreement on civil nuclear co-operation, as announced by President Bush and Indian Prime Minister Singh. We believe that the deal can make a significant contribution to energy security, development, economic and environmental objectives for India and the international community, as well as represent a net gain for the non-proliferation regime.

We believe this agreement will bring India further into, and thereby strengthen, the broader nuclear non-proliferation framework, which is underpinned by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Bringing India towards the non-proliferation mainstream also allows us to engage with India on a full range of non-proliferation and arms control issues.