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New Delhi Declaration

Answer

The information requested is as follows.(a) Civilian Nuclear ActivitiesThe UK Government seeks to promote scientific, technological and academic co-operation with India, consistent with our international commitments. India is a key international partner and we attach great importance to developing our strategic partnership on civil nuclear activities and to stopping onward proliferation. In August 2005, the Government revised the position adopted in 2002 on our policy regarding the export of nuclear related items to India. The restrictions now in force are less stringent than that in force in 2002 and conform to the UK's current international obligations and non-proliferation commitments. The effect of our approach is to refuse only those exports or scientific contacts that are of serious concern, taking into account the circumstances of each particular case.(b) Civilian Space ProgrammesThe British National Space Centre (BNSC) held a meeting with the Indian National Institute of Advanced Studies to discuss areas of collaboration, in December 2004. We continue to look for further opportunities to co-operate bilaterally with India and in multilateral fora.The British High Commission in New Delhi is working with the Indian Space Research Organisation on space programmes.A workshop on using Earth Observation to measure the effects of climate change on agricultural productivity is due to take place from 28–30 March 2006. Two of BNSC's partner organisations, the Natural Environment Research Council and the Met Office are also involved.(c) High TechnologyThe UK-India joint economic and trade committee (JETCO) has followed up on the 2002 Delhi Declaration with high technology as an area for bilateral co-operation. The most recent discussions were held on the 30 January 2006 in London by the JETCO working group to explore synergies and co-operation in the area of high technology. The group presented its report to the Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industry and the Indian Minister of Commerce and agreed that they would focus on collaboration in the biotechnology sector, advanced manufacturing, and forging alliances between high technology regions in India with clusters in the UK.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

48397; 442 c1374-5W;442 c1374-5W

Session

2005-06

Subjects

India Foreign relations Nuclear power Overseas trade Technology Space technology

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk