Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Monday, 3 February 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 February 2003. It was answered by Tony Blair (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 February 2003 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister

Question: To ask the Prime Minister, what the basis is of his assertion in his statement on Iraq on 3rd February that the disarming of South Africa of its nuclear weapons, along with the verification of this action, took a matter of weeks.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what the basis is of his assertion in his statement on Iraq on 3 February that the disarming of South Africa of its nuclear weapons, along with the verification of this action, took a matter of weeks. [96140] The Prime Minister: The reference in my statement of 3 February was intended to illustrate that the process of disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction need not be a long drawn out one, provided Iraq gives full co-operation with the UN inspection teams, as required under UNSCR 1441. It need only be a matter of weeks for the UN inspectors to be able to report that Iraq is demonstrating a firm commitment to full and active co-operation with UN inspectors. In March 1993 the South African Government invited the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to report on the status of their former nuclear weapons programme. An IAEA technical team visited South Africa for this purpose from 22 April to 4 May and its preliminary assessment was reported to the board that month. A final assessment was made to the board in September 1993.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 96140; 399 c658W;399 c656W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Iraq Nuclear weapons Nuclear disarmament South Africa Verification
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk