Arms Control and Disarmament (Inspections) Bill [Lords]
8:55 am
Mr Denis MacShane (Minister of State (Europe), Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Rotherham, Labour)
When you where a Whip, Mr. Conway, Ministers were always under firm control, and spoke only when allowed to do so—and not a moment longer.
The Bill had a good debate on Second Reading, and I sought at the time to deal with questions that were raised. Since then, I have received a letter from the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr. Simmonds) asking further technical questions. With the permission of the Committee, I shall write to the hon. Gentleman rather than reply in detail now. His questions are important, but they were dealt with on Second Reading. However, I place on record my assurance that he will receive a full reply.
I remind the Committee that the Bill makes the technical amendments necessary to implement the adapted version of the treaty on conventional armed forces in Europe, known as the CFE treaty, which was signed in Paris on 19 November 1990. That treaty was implemented so far as necessary by the Arms Control and Disarmament (Inspections) Act 1991.