On the first part of the question, we shall be using our chairmanship to try to achieve progress towards a comprehensive verifiable ban on chemical weapons. That is highly desirable and a fundamental objective of the Government's arms control policy. Towards that end, we have, over the last year or so, tabled a number of papers to try to make progress on the verification issue.

With regard to the second part of the question, I repeat what I said to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) on 7 March: A force goal requiring the United States to modernise its chemical weapons stocks with binary munitions is being discussed collectively within NATO in accordance with normal Alliance procedures."—[Official Report, 7 March 1986; Vol. 93, c. 313.] I cannot add to that.