Written question asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 18 July 2017, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 1 August 2017. It was answered by Earl Howe (Conservative) on Thursday, 27 July 2017 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Nuclear Weapons: Verification

Question: Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made on scientific and technical research into nuclear verification since 2015; whether the UK is actively seeking other non-nuclear weapons states partners; and what resources they have allocated for this work until 2020.

Answer: Since 2015 the UK has conducted a series of successful exercises to support our ability to assess the efficiency and limitations of potential warhead reduction treaty verification technologies. The UK has drawn together its bilateral verification research programmes with Norway and the US to form a quadrilateral research initiative with Norway, the US and Sweden. Additionally it makes its nuclear disarmament verification research available to the International Partnership on Nuclear Disarmament Verification, the majority of members of which are non-nuclear weapons states. The Ministry of Defence has an active Arms Control Verification Research programme, at the Atomic Weapons Establishment. I am withholding further information on resources as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests.

Secondary information