Written question asked by Mark Simmonds (Conservative) on Thursday, 17 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 April 2005. It was answered by Denis MacShane (Labour) on Thursday, 7 April 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of whether there is a need to strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to ensure that signatory states are not able to exploit the treaty by obtaining nuclear technology under the guise of a peaceful civilian nuclear energy programme.

Answer: Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether there is a need to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation treaty to ensure that signatory states are not able to exploit the treaty by obtaining nuclear technology under the guise of a peaceful civilian nuclear energy programme. [223321] Mr. MacShane: The United Kingdom supports the efforts being made by a number of bodies to consider how to ensure that nuclear technology acquired under Article IV of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) cannot be diverted to weapons programmes, either while a state is still party to the treaty, or following withdrawal from it. We hope to continue this discussion at the upcoming NPT review conference in May, and are working towards an outcome which strengthens the non-proliferation regime to deal better with these challenges.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c1777W;432 c1772W; 223321
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Nuclear weapons Nuclear power Proliferation Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Technology
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk