Iraqi Nuclear Programme And Parliamentary Answers

EDM number 157 in 1991-92, proposed by Paul Flynn on 13/11/1991.

That this House recalls that five months before the start of the Gulf War, on 19th April 1990 (Official Report, column 1013-4) the honourable Member for Newport West requested the Government to initiate investigations at the International Atomic Energy Agency into the Iraqi nuclear weapons programme, and that the then Minister of State at the Foreign Office, the Right honourable Member for Bristol West, replied that Iraq was a party to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty "and as such has undertaken not to develop nuclear weapons. We expect Iraq to abide by her international obligations. We do not envisage.... taking the specific action outlined by the honourable Member."; notes that in a parliamentary answer on 13th November 1991 (Official Report, column 524) the Minister of State at the Foreign Office the honourable Member for Grantham, replied to the honourable Member for Newport West "We now know that Iraq circumvented IAEA safeguards in seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capability. This is a cause for concern. The IAEA is considering how to strengthen the system.".

This motion has been signed by a total of 45 MPs.