Nuclear Non-Proliferation and disarmament inquiry: Lords to hear from NPT 2020 Review Conference president, and former Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs

The Committee launched the inquiry because nuclear weapons are on the international agenda in a way they have not been since the end of the Cold War with rising tensions between nuclear-armed states and due to the fragmenting of existing non-proliferation and arms control agreements. The inquiry is examining the state of global nuclear diplomacy and the United Kingdom's role in it.

Appearing at 10.40am will be:

• Dr Rafael Grossi, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the International Organisations in Vienna and President-designate of the 2020 NPT Review Conference
  

Questions are expected to include: 

• What are your hopes for the 2020 Review Conference of the NPT, and what do you think will be the biggest challenges to the agreement of a consensus final document?
• To what extent is the Ban Treaty a rival treaty to the NPT?
• How important is the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in global non-proliferation regime?
  

Appearing at 11.40am will be:

• Bert Koenders, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands
  

Questions are likely to include:

• To what extent has the risk of nuclear weapons use increased in recent years, and what should European countries do to try and alleviate this risk?
• The US Administration has made policy decisions on nuclear issues that have concerned European partners. How do you think that European countries should respond?
• Can you explain why the Netherlands chose to vote against the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons?
• What is NATO's role in nuclear diplomacy, and are there actions the Alliance could take collectively to reduce nuclear risk?
   
  

The session will begin at 10.40am in Committee Room 4, House of Lords.