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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the United Kingdom submissions for the NATO fiftieth anniversary meeting to be held in Washington on 23 to 25 April; and if he will make a statement on the submissions made by (a) Germany and (b) Canada on the role of nuclear weapons within the NATO force structure. [81573] Mr. George Robertson: The United Kingdom has played a full part in the confidential consideration between Allies of the various issues which will be discussed at the forthcoming NATO Summit. As is normal, the details of the UK contribution to such international negotiations are not made public and I am therefore withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information--defence, security and international relations. The principles underlying the Government's approach have been set out in evidence given by me, my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and senior officials to the Defence Select Committee's inquiry into the future of NATO, published on 13 April in the Committee's Third Report of Session 1998-99 (HC 39), as well as in debates and in answers to Questions in both Houses. I have also made a number of speeches, which are available on the Ministry of Defence's World Wide Web site, http:/www.mod/uk. The views of other Allies on NATO issues are a matter for the Governments concerned.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

81573; 329 c562-3W

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Deployment Canada Germany Nuclear weapons Policy NATO