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Written question asked by Joan Walley (Labour) on Friday, 19 June 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 23 June 2009. It was answered by Ivan Lewis (Labour) on Thursday, 25 June 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Nuclear Weapons: Arms Control

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his Department's evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee's inquiry into Global Security: Non Proliferation, HC 222, EV 118, under what circumstances the UK will include Trident warheads in a negotiation to reduce warhead numbers; and if he will make a statement.
Answer

The Government are at the forefront of international efforts to create the conditions for a world free from nuclear weapons. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 17 March 2009 that as soon as it becomes useful for our minimum deterrent, currently represented by the Trident system, to be included in a broader disarmament negotiation, we stand ready to participate and act. However, to reach that point would require a much more secure and predictable global political and security environment. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary set out in detail the conditions needed for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the steps that could be taken towards achieving them in the paper "Lifting the Nuclear Shadow" published in February 2009.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
494 c1073W; 282049
Session
2008-09
Related items
Subjects
Arms control Nuclear weapons Nuclear disarmament
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk