CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

Early day motion 673, tabled 21 January 1998 by Martin Caton (Labour). Signed by 57 members.

That this House congratulates the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament on its 40 years' fighting to remove the deadly threat of nuclear weapons; recalls that when CND was founded in February 1958 it was a popular movement against nuclear arms building upon the decision in 1957 by the Labour Party and TUC to campaign against atmospheric atomic tests; remembers with pleasure the involvement of the Right honourable Michael Foot, the former leader of the Labour Party, in the founding of CND; remains concerned that in the same year as CND was established the Conservative Government concluded a nuclear exchange agreement with the United States that led to the purchase of Polaris and Trident nuclear weapons and submarines, and the barter of nuclear explosive materials; recalls the work done by CND at the Sizewell and Hinkley public enquiries to expose the export of United Kingdom civil plutonium to the United States for use in weapons; welcomes the admission by the United States Department of Energy on 22nd December last year that 5,400 kilogrammes of United Kingdom plutonium was sent to the United States between 1960 and 1979, which vindicated CND's allegations; and applauds CND's continued work to oppose Trident and to expose the danger of nuclear weapons production and deployment; and wishes the campaign every success.

Signatures by party: Labour 54, Scottish National Party 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.