Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 January 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 23 January 1998. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Friday, 23 January 1998 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what variations have been made to Article 2 of the Amendment of 27th September 1968 to the agreement for co-operation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defense purposes, of 3rd July 1958. - Inc refs to Cmnd 9434, and Cm2785.

Answer: Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what variations have been made to Article 2 of the Amendment of 27 September 1968 to the agreement for co-operation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defence purposes, of 3 July 1958. [23793] Mr. Spellar: I have been asked to reply. Article 2 of the 1968 amendment refers to Article III bis of the 1958 UK-US Mutual Defence Agreement. Variations made to the wording of Article III bis since 1968 have been to extend the time limits for transfers of special nuclear materials together with two textual amendments. An amendment, Cmnd 9434, which entered into force on 16 November 1984 added a new paragraph C referring to the transfer from the United States of enriched uranium for military purposes. The most recent amendment to Article III bis is Cm 2785 which entered into force on 23 December 1994. This amendment (a) extends the time limit to December 31, 2004 and (b) advises of a textual change to one phrase in paragraph C.

Secondary information