The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1993Prime Minister (1990-1997)

PMQT Written Answers – 22 March 1993

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Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 22nd March 1993.

PRIME MINISTER:

 

Public Bodies (Appointments)

Mr. Clelland : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 9 March, Official Report, column 517, if he will list the former right hon. and hon. Members who have been appointed to bodies in Northumbria to which Ministers make appointments, together with the salaries, emoluments or honoraria paid to the former hon. Members concerned since April 1992.

The Prime Minister : The information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

 

Nuclear Testing

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the possible contribution of a comprehensive test ban treaty towards nuclear non-proliferation.

The Prime Minister : A comprehensive test ban would not in itself prevent a proliferator from producing and deploying a crude nuclear weapon without recourse to testing, and from obtaining the materials with which to do this. But associated measures for verification and inspection, if sufficiently rigorous, and applicable to the states concerned, might constrain potential proliferations.

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty’s Government’s policy towards the negotiation of a comprehensive test ban treaty by September 1996; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister : We support the ultimate goal of a comprehensive test ban. The factors which will influence the rate at which progress towards a ban can be made will include the need to develop an effective system of verification. We will also need to be confident that we have the necessary technologies and expertise to maintain the safety of our nuclear weapons at the highest level without testing.

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect of the testing of nuclear weapons by emerging nuclear weapon states on the security interests of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister : Since India exploded a nuclear device in 1974, we are aware of no established case of a country other than those recognised by the non-proliferation treaty as nuclear weapons states conducting a nuclear test.