Kate Hudson to give evidence to defence select committee
The Parliamentary Defence Select Committee has asked Kate Hudson, Chair of the
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, to give oral evidence in their first inquiry
into the possibility of replacing the Trident nuclear weapons system. This
inquiry will explore the changing strategic context of the threats against
Britain, with further inquiries to follow later this year. Hudson, who also
submitted written evidence to the Committee on behalf of CND, will give
evidence on Tuesday 14 March at 10:30 am.
According to Ms Hudson, “In the early 1980s when the British government
decided to purchase the Trident nuclear weapons system, Britain faced a
perceived threat from the nuclear-armed Soviet Union. Britain is now on
friendly terms with Russia and no longer faces a threat from any nuclear-armed
nation. The government has declared terrorism to be the biggest threat facing
Britain. Tony Blair has admitted that nuclear weapons are of no use against
terrorism. Britain should be positioning itself as a global leader for peace
by ending its nuclear weapons programme as required under the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty instead of planning a new generation of nuclear
weapons which will cause further proliferation and global instability.”
She continued, “We have seen in the past how courageous initiatives can lead
to substantial disarmament, and the international situation cries out for
another such initiative. A decision by Britain not to replace Trident would be
such a move. It would help to restore confidence in the possibility of NPT
compliance and would demonstrate that relations between nations, and
resolution of their security concerns, can be built in the framework of
international law.”
www.cnduk.org
March 2006
> > home page > >