Nuclear Weapons: Non-Proliferation
[15 MARCH 1993]
Last week I told the House about the expenditure of £30 million to assist Russia in securing transport and special containers for nuclear warheads. Of course, it is the Ukraine which continues to worry us greatly. We continue to urge them to honour their commitments to a non-nuclear weapon status at the earliest possible date.
Lord Wyatt of Weeford: My Lords, can the noble Baroness say what the Government are going to do about the Iranian Government signing agreements with the Moslem-dominated republic of Kazakhstan in the former Soviet Union to buy equipment to make nuclear weapons in the next couple of years or so?
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his question. He will know that the Lisbon protocol to START I committed the Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan to the ratification of START I. Kazakhstan has now ratified, but we share the noble Lord's concern that it must be not only committed to accede to the non-proliferation treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state but must actually put that into action as well.
Lord Kennet: My Lords, the noble Baroness has mentioned North Korea, and we must all share her anxiety in that regard. Will she confirm that it is the right of any signatory of the non-proliferation treaty to secede from the treaty if it feels that its national interests are threatened? Is it not the case that for many years past South Korea and the United States have mounted an annual military exercise called Team Spirit in which they practised in South Korea the invasion of the shores of North Korea? Last year President Bush very wisely cancelled it and North Korea began to treat seriously with South Korea on reunification, and so on; but towards the end of his faltering election campaign, President Bush decided to hold an exercise this year-
Noble Lords: Question!
Lord Kennet: My Lords, I am asking whether this is not the case and whether those facts are correct. Is it not the case that President Bush decided to hold an exercise this year, supported by bombers based in Japan and all the rest of it?
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: My Lords, I am amazed to find that a Member of your Lordships' House seems to be in sympathy with North Korea withdrawing from the non-proliferation treaty. The treaty states that a country announcing its withdrawal must provide three months' notice to all other parties. But we should examine why this has happened. North Korea agreed in April/May of last year to the safeguards. It then allowed six inspections, perfectly properly; but as soon as the IAEA spotted two sites -former villages--which were probably now military sites it refused to allow access. This is the very first time that the IAEA has attempted to make special uninvited inspections-because of the suspicions. That is why North Korea has taken this decision. The reason is probably that it has illicit nuclear testing sites. I should have thought that this was something that the noble Lord would actually protest against.
627 LD75/3 Job 1-4
Ethnic Minorities: Funding
1222
Lord Richard: My Lords, perhaps I may follow up the Minister's answer. North Korea having given notice of its withdrawal, what can the world community actually do about it? Can she confirm that the IAEA will meet in Vienna this week to discuss North Korea's withdrawal? Does she know whether North Korean representatives will attend that meeting? Further, I understand that under the terms of the treaty, a withdrawal has to be reported to the Security Council. Can the noble Baroness tell us whether the Security Council will meet? If the Security Council meets, what action does Her Majesty's Government propose that it should take?
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Richard, is right that the IAEA intends to meet this week in Vienna. I do not know whether North Korean representatives will be present. Given past experience, I rather doubt whether they would turn up, even if invited. That or no, I am quite certain that the Security Council will wish to consider the North Korean decision fairly quickly. Our position will be, with others, that because the United Kingdom is determined to maintain and strengthen the non-proliferation treaty, we will decide with our partners what steps should be taken at the Security Council meeting. I am not in a position at this moment to give details because we have not had consultations.
Ethnic Minorities: Funding
2.52 p.m.
Baroness Hamwee Government:
asked Her Majesty's
Whether the proposed cut in funding under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 (special provision by means of Home Office grant for ethnic minority communities) will adversely affect the access of people lawfully settled in this country to a full range of opportunities.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers): My Lords, Section 11 grant remains a major expenditure programme. We will work closely with local authorities and others so as to ensure that the available funding achieves the maximum benefit for members of ethnic minorities.
Baroness Hamwee: My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. He will be aware that the available funding is being reduced. Will he accept that fluency in the English language is fundamental and that English as a second language is not a national curriculum subject and therefore cannot be supported out of mainstream funding? In answering, will he bear in mind that my question is based on words published in the Conservative manifesto last April? They are:
"We are determined that everyone lawfully settled in this country should enjoy the full range of opportunities in our society".
Earl Ferrers: My Lords, I quite agree with the noble Baroness that fluency in English is vital. We intend to see that the best use is made of the moneys available. The sum available next year will be increased on the sum available this year. It will be after that that there
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