India

Harry Cohen
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.

Dr. Howells
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.