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September - November 2007 Parliamentary Records: Non-Proliferation and Disarmament
Key to House of Commons Column Numbering
W Written Answers, House of Commons WS Written Ministerial Statements, House of Commons Column number with no letters Oral Proceedings in the House of CommonsNon-Proliferation and Disarmament
Nuclear Disarmament, Written Answers, 27 Nov 2007, Column 348W
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the UK voted against the resolution Towards a Nuclear-weapon-free World: Accelerating the Implementation of Nuclear Disarmament Commitments at the UN First Committee on Disarmament and International Security on 17 October 2007; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jim Murphy: The United Kingdom abstained on rather than voted against this resolution at the UN General Assembly's First Committee. The resolution contained a great deal that we would have been happy to endorse. However, we remained unable to support the text because it gave no recognition to the significant nuclear disarmament achievements of most nuclear weapons states since the end of the cold war. We made this clear in an oral explanation given at the time of the vote, which will be deposited in the Library of the House.
Nuclear Test Ban, Written Answers, 27 Nov 2007, Column 348W
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to encourage the governments of (a) China, (b) India and (c) the USA to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
Dr. Howells: China and the US signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban treaty (CTBT) in 1996 but have not yet ratified it. India has neither signed nor ratified the treaty.
The United Kingdom strongly supports the earliest possible entry into force of the CTBT. We continue to take every appropriate opportunity, both bilaterally and through the EU, to urge all states who have not yet done so to sign and/or ratify the CTBT without delay and without condition. We most recently took action with India in April 2007, with the US in September
27 Nov 2007 : Column 349W
2007, and agreed EU action with China in November 2007. The UK also continues to support the outreach activities of Ambassador Ramaker, the Special Representative of the ratifiers of the treaty, staff of the Provisional Technical Secretariat and the Executive Secretary of the CTBT. In addition, the UK actively participates in the annual events held under the provisions of article XIV of the treaty to facilitate entry into force.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Written Answers, 26 Nov 2007, Column 223W
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preparations have been made for the Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference talks in 2010, what role he expects the European Union will play in these talks; and if he will make a statement.
