Debbie Abrahams MP asks an urgent question on the security and humanitarian situation in Kashmir, in light of the escalating tension between India and Pakistan

 

International Relations Committee inquiry evidence session: Rafael Grossi and Bert Koenders

On Wednesday 27th February 2019 Mr Rafael Grossi, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the International Organisations in Vienna and President-designate of the NPT’s 2020 Review Conference, and Mr Bert Koenders, former Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave evidence to the select committee on International relations.

Martyn Day MP questions Ministry of Defence on the legal implications for UK nuclear deterrence policy

Martyn Day MP  the Secretary of State for Defence, “what assessment his Department has made of the implications for his policies of the conclusions of the New Zealand Yearbook of International Law article entitled Is the UK nuclear deterrence policy lawful? Published in Vol. 11, 2013; and if he will make a statement.”

Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Defence responded “I can reassure the House that the United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent is fully compliant and compatible with our international legal obligations.”

Westminster tweets of the week

 

International Relations Committee inquiry evidence session: Alexandra Bell and Oliver Meier

On Wednesday 20th February 2019 Ms Alexandra Bell, Senior Policy Director, Centre for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, and Dr Oliver Meier, Deputy Head, International Security Division, German Institute for International Affairs , gave evidence to the select committee on International relations.

Paul Flynn 1935 – 2019

We’re very sad to hear Paul Flynn MP has died. We will remember Paul for the enormous contribution he made to the peace movement in Britain. He was a member of CND over many years and campaigned against Trident as a member of the Parliamentary CND group of MPs. Mr Flynn consistently opposed Britain’s intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan and backed calls for Mr Blair to be prosecuted following the release of the Chilcot Report. Our thoughts are with his family.

Viscount Waverley questions the Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office about the INF Treaty

Viscount Waverley asked Her Majesty’s Government, “further to the Statement on the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 5 February (HL Deb, cols 1495–9), what assessment they have made of whether (1) Germany, (2) Hungary, (3) Poland, (4) Bulgaria, (5) Slovakia, and (6) the Czech Republic have destroyed or dismantled any INF Treaty missiles they hold; and if so, whether they are concerned by those countries’ actions in that regard.”

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs responded stating “Only the US, Russia and a small number of other Soviet successor states are bound by the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The Treaty initially eliminated all of their intermediate-range (500km-5,500km) ground-launched cruise and ballistic missiles. By 1991, all US and Soviet Union missiles covered by the Treaty had been eliminated. All NATO Allies support the finding of the US that Russia is now in material breach of the Treaty, citing its covert testing, production and fielding of 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile systems. We are working closely with Allies to review the security implications of Russian intermediate-range missiles and will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of the Alliance’s overall deterrence and defence posture.”

International Relations Committee inquiry evidence session: Beatrice Fihn and Dr Nick Ritchie

On Wednesday 13th February 2019 Ms Beatrice Fihn, Executive Director, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN); Dr Nick Ritchie, Lecturer (International Security), University of York, gave evidence to the select committee on International relations.

Read the full transcript of the evidence session. 

APPG on Global Security and Non-Proliferation host briefing on “making progress towards nuclear disarmament”

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Security and Non-Proliferation hosted a briefing for Parliamentarians on “making progress towards nuclear disarmament”

Speakers: Beatrice Fihn (Executive Director, International Campaign to Abolosh Nuclear Weapons,) and Tom Plant (Director, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Royal United Services Institute) 

Read BASIC’s summary of the event