The UK is signatory to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and is committed to making progress across each of its three pillars by the 2010 NPT Review Conference:

1. Nuclear disarmament - we continue to work towards the total elimination of nuclear arsenals through multilateral, mutual and verifable agreements.
2. Preventing Proliferation - we are pursuing a comprehensive national and multilateral strategy to strengthen the obligations on states to tighten export controls, combat supply chains and prevent old or unsecured materials from falling into the wrong hands.
3. Peaceful uses of nuclear energy - we strongly support states' rights under the NPT to the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy.  We are working to create a viable regime of nuclear fuel assurances under IAEA auspices to guarantee suppl of nuclear fuel to reinforce that right.

The UK is now calling on international partners to work together to establish nuclear security as a fourth pillar of the international nuclear framework - alongside non-proliferation, disarmament and access to civil nuclear power. This would not mean re-opening the NPT itself, but ensuring that nuclear security issues are placed firmly on the international agenda.

NPT: The Road to 2010

On 16 July 2009, Prime Minister Gordon Brown presented the UK Government’s Road to 2010 plan. This brings together - for the first time - the UK’s detailed vision for a renewed nuclear global bargain on the key strategic challenges of the modern nuclear era:

• the safe expansion of civil nuclear power
• nuclear security
• non-proliferation and
• the reduction and eventual elimination of all nuclear weapons.

It is a coherent strategy that will lead us into the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation (NPT) Review conference and beyond. The conference is an opportunity to renew the bargain at the heart of the NPT:

• for non-nuclear weapon states - this is about the right to access civil nuclear power in return for continuing to forego nuclear weapons
• for nuclear weapon states this involves tough responsibilities to show leadership on the question of disarmament and being at the forefront of developing global solutions that allow wider and secure access to civil nuclear power.

Promoting Civil Nuclear Power

The UK is committed to ensuring that all nations can access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Iran is a test case - we will help Iran gain access to nuclear power for peaceful purposes, but we will do everything we can to prevent weapons proliferation.

To make a reality of the right to all countries to access civil nuclear power we are establishing a new Nuclear Centre of Excellence.  

The Centre:

• will promote the development of cost effective civil nuclear power that is much harder for terrorists and states with hostile intent to divert for use in weapons programmes
• will receive £20 million in funding from the Government over the first five years
• be developed in partnership with academia, industry and international partners.

Nuclear Security

All nuclear material must be held securely, to prevent it falling into the hands of terrorist groups or hostile states.

The UK is offering assistance to any nation with security improvements should they request our help. For example by using our expertise to help improve facilities or personnel training.

Non-proliferation and Disarmament

The UK Government recognises that urgent action is required to address the proliferation of nuclear weapons.  The Road to 2010 plan sets out a phased approach that will enable progress on non-proliferation and multilateral disarmament.

• the first stage is improving transparency of current weapons capabilities as we seek greater control to prevent expansion
• the second is verifiable multilateral reductions in arsenals
• and the final step is to create the security conditions and overcome the technical and political challenges of a world free from all nuclear weapons.

In September the UK will host a meeting of the recognised nuclear weapon states on confidence building measures towards disarmament.

International Governance

There is growing momentum across the globe to tackle these challenges - which is why the Road to 2010 also sets out steps to strengthen international governance, particularly the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

• We will work with the incoming Director General and international partners to develop robust plans for organisational reform
• Host a meeting of the main financial donors of the Agency to drive progress on future funding and staffing issues.

The Road to 2010 sets out what we can do in the run-up to the Conference and beyond to ensure a safe and secure nuclear future.

NPT meetings in 2009

• 2009 Prepcom.  Ambassador John Duncan led the UK delegation at the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference from 4 - 15 May 2009 in New York.  For the first time in 15 years, the Prepcom was able to agree the agenda for the 2010 Review Conference, together with Rules of Procedure and the nomination of the Revcon President (Ambassador Libran N. Cabactulan of the Philipines).  The early agreement of the agenda enabled the NPT member states to reach beyond procedural issues and engage in a rich debate on substantive policy recommendations for the Revcon across all three pillars of the Treaty, including on specific issues such as the Middle East.  Whilst the meeting was ultimately unable to reach consensus on these recommendations, it came very close, and the constructive atmosphere and sense of common purpose among member states provides good grounds for optimism and a solid platform to build towards a successful Review Conference in 2010.

See below for UK statements and a press release from the P5 Nuclear Weapons States following the Prepcom.

          UK General Statement, New York, 4 May 2009

          UK Statement on Cluster I, New York, 6 May 2009

          UK Statement on Cluster II, New York, 7 May 2009

          UK Statement on Cluster III, New York, 8 May 2009

          UK Statement on Regional Issues, New York, 8 May 2009

          UK Intervention on the Draft Recommendations, New York, May 2009

          P5 Non-proliferation Press Release, New York, 15 May 2009

Previous meetings in 2010 NPT Review Conference Cycle

• 2008 Prepcom

 The Second PrepCom of the 2010 Review Conference cycle met in Geneva from 28 April - 9 May 2008.  The meeting was chaired by Ukrainian Ambassador Yelchenko.  The meeting ran smoothly with no brinkmanship.  Over 40 working papers were tabled, including the Chairman's Summary of the meeting.  The P5 made a joint statement - the first in 8 years.  Middle East NWFZ and WMDFZ, NSAs, Nuclear Fuel Assurances and a "Carnegie" version were key themes.  Although there was a resounding commitment to the NPT there was nevertheless little indication of an emerging consensus around which a successful RevCon can be built.

• 2007 Prepcom

The First PrepCom met in Vienna 30 April - 11 May 2007 in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the IAEA.  A First PrepCom has  a procedural role to agree the agenda and Chairs for the PrepComs and offers States Parties the opportunity to debate ideas across all 3 pillars including in the margins with NGOs.   At Vienna, Iran was unable to agree the agenda and substantive discussion was delayed for 8 days.   

History of the NPT 

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) entered into force in 1970 and was indefinitely extended in 1995.  With 189 members (Cuba and East Timor being the most recent to accede) it has the largest membership of any international arms control treaty, although the problematic cases of India, Pakistan and Israel remain outside of its auspices (and North Korea’s position is in dispute following its withdrawal in 2003). The treaty is the cornerstone of non-proliferation and the basis of nuclear disarmament.

Recent UK Statements and Working Papers at NPT Meetings

2008 NPT Preparatory Committee Statements

2007 NPT Preparatory Committee UK Papers