*5 Jun 2008 : Column 1062W*—continued
Nuclear Disarmament
*Mr. Hancock:* To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his statement at the UN Conference on Disarmament on 5 February 2008 that the UK is willing to host a technical conference of P5 nuclear laboratories on the verification of nuclear disarmament before the next Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2010, what /(a)/ date has been set and /(b)/ practical arrangements have been made for the meeting; and if he will make a statement. [208850]
*Des Browne:* In my offer to host a P5 conference between the laboratories of the nuclear weapon states, I proposed that it should take place within the current NPT review cycle ending in 2010. My intention remains that this should be a P5 conference hosted by the UK rather than a UK conference to which the P5 partners are invited. We are actively engaging with our P5 partners to ensure that this conference will also meet their requirements in terms of timing and content. I will keep the House informed of progress.
*5 Jun 2008** : Column 1061W*
AWE Burghfield
*Mr. Hancock:* To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his timetable is for the submission of a planning application to replace the gravel gerties at Atomic Weapons Establishment, Burghfield. [208327]
*Mr. Bob Ainsworth:* The planning application for the assembly/disassembly facility at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Burghfield, which will replace the gravel gerties, is currently programmed for submission to West Berkshire council in the last quarter of 2008.