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Written question asked by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party) on Monday, 13 June 2022, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 June 2022. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Monday, 27 June 2022 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Kiribati: Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are willing to engage on the (1) victim assistance, and (2) environmental remediation, elements of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, including with state parties such as Kiribati.

Answer

The Government does not believe the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) will bring us closer to a world without nuclear weapons. The UK will not sign or engage with the Treaty. The Government firmly believes that the best way to achieve our collective goal of a world without nuclear weapons is through gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step-by-step approach, under the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The effects and consequences of nuclear testing are not part of the NPT. The Treaty related to the cessation of nuclear testing is the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The UK has had a moratorium on nuclear testing since 1991, and was one of the first to sign and ratify the CTBT in 1998. We call on all States who are yet to ratify the CTBT to do so as soon as possible, so that it can enter into force.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL856
Session
2022-23
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Environment protection Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Victims Kiribati
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk