asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty must be reconfirmed in April 2000; and what specific steps they are taking to put disarmament back on course. [HL1554]

We are unequivocally committed to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons which remains the cornerstone of our non-proliferation policy. We have made a positive contribution to implementing the agenda agreed at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference and will work for a positive outcome to this year's conference, which will advance the goal of nuclear disarmament.