Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will attend and vote on the draft resolution at the UN in December on the holding of a UN high level conference in May 2018 to review progress on nuclear disarmament; and, if that high level conference is subsequently held, whether the UK will attend.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We will vote against the draft resolution at the UN in December on the holding of a UN high level conference in May 2018 to review progress on nuclear disarmament. We do not believe that a Conference mandated by this resolution will lead to effective progress on nuclear disarmament. It will not address the serious threats to international peace and security posed by nuclear non proliferation nor will it take account of the international security environment. If the Conference is held, we will consider our approach closer to the time.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they supported the Tbilisi Declaration of the OSCE that “Calls on all participating OSCE States to participate in the 2018 UN international conference on disarmament at the highest level and to include parliamentarians in their delegations to the conference to pursue the adoption of nuclear risk reduction, transparency and disarmament measures”; and whether the UK delegation will include parliamentarians.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Tbilisi Declaration was adopted by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly and not by the Government. We will consider our approach to the 2018 international conference closer to the time. The Government firmly believes that the best way to achieve a world without nuclear weapons is through gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step by step approach and within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions, if any, they have had with the government of Malta about the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our High Commissioner has met the Maltese Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister to discuss the case and to offer UK support to the police investigation.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the call by the President of France for the creation of a concrete mechanism to enforce international law regarding the protection of journalists.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to the protection of journalists, who are facing increasing risks in the course of their work, including intimidation, harassment and violence. Working closely with our international partners, we will consider all possible options for increasing the protection of journalists, and tackling impunity for those that threaten their safety. This includes the suggestion to appoint a Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the protection of journalists.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prepare for the 2018 UN High Level Conference on Disarmament.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government firmly believes that the best way to achieve a world without nuclear weapons is through gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step by step approach and within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. We will consider our approach to the 2018 UN High Level Conference closer to the time.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government what meetings they have had in the last two years under the P5 Process with the five nuclear weapons states recognised under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK hosted the Conference of P5 Nuclear Weapon States in London in 2015, and the US hosted the Conference in Washington in September 2016. There has been ongoing dialogue between conferences.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the long-term aims of the multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations to be held in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 71/258, in the light of the aims of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Government has discussed nuclear disarmament issues, including UN General Assembly Resolution 71/258, with numerous States over the last six months. Those discussions have taken place with Embassies in London, through UK Embassies overseas, in international organisations and directly between capitals. The UK Government will not attend the substantive negotiations, which started on 27 March. We do not believe these negotiations will lead to effective progress on global nuclear disarmament. The best way to achieve this goal is through gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step-by-step approach and within existing international frameworks.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the UK will send a representative or an observer to attend the negotiations to be held in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 71/258, <i>Taking forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations</i>.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Government has discussed nuclear disarmament issues, including UN General Assembly Resolution 71/258, with numerous States over the last six months. Those discussions have taken place with Embassies in London, through UK Embassies overseas, in international organisations and directly between capitals. The UK Government will not attend the substantive negotiations, which started on 27 March. We do not believe these negotiations will lead to effective progress on global nuclear disarmament. The best way to achieve this goal is through gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step-by-step approach and within existing international frameworks.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government with which ambassadors to the UK they have held meetings in the last six months to discuss UN General Assembly Resolution 71/258, <i>Taking forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations</i>.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Government has discussed nuclear disarmament issues, including UN General Assembly Resolution 71/258, with numerous States over the last six months. Those discussions have taken place with Embassies in London, through UK Embassies overseas, in international organisations and directly between capitals. The UK Government will not attend the substantive negotiations, which started on 27 March. We do not believe these negotiations will lead to effective progress on global nuclear disarmament. The best way to achieve this goal is through gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step-by-step approach and within existing international frameworks.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what conclusions they drew following their attendance at the 2014 Vienna conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review sets out the Government's approach towards our independent nuclear deterrent. As a responsible nuclear weapons state we are committed to the long-term goal of a world without nuclear weapons and will work with our international partners to tackle proliferation and to make progress on nuclear disarmament.