UK’s nuclear deterrence capabilities examined by Lords Committee

Amending Agreement to UK-US Mutual Defence Agreement

The UK-US Cooperation Agreement on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defense Purposes, also known as the "Mutual Defence Agreement" (MDA), entered into force in August 1958. It has been amended numerous times since then, mostly recently in 2014. It underpins the defence nuclear relationship between the UK and US in the maintenance and development of their respective nuclear weapons programmes. The MDA allows for the exchange of nuclear materials, technology and information. The Amending Agreement proposes a series of amendments to the MDA.

The Committee has welcomed the expectation that ratification of the Amending Agreement by the US will be completed within the terms of the current administration and Congress. It also noted that the Amending Agreement will receive greater scrutiny in Congress than is possible in Parliament due to the limitations of the CRAG process. Considering the Mutual Defence Agreement’s role in forming the cornerstone of the UK-US defence and security relationship, the Committee expressed regret at the lack of sufficient time to take evidence on this important agreement.

Article III bis, which relates to the transfer of special nuclear materials and non-nuclear materials, is time-limited and has been renewed on a ten-year cycle since the 1980s. This requirement has also provided an opportunity to make further changes to other parts of the MDA. The committee has expressed concern that an Amendment to remove this provision means there will no longer be periodic parliamentary scrutiny of the MDA in Parliament. Given the strategic importance of UK-US cooperation at this critical time in replacing the UK's nuclear deterrent to maintain the country's security, the Committee has called on the Government to commit to providing a report to Parliament on the progress and operation of the MDA every ten years.

The Committee reports the Agreement to the House for special attention and debate on the grounds that UK-US defence nuclear relations are strategically significant and of public policy interest.

AUKUS Agreement on Cooperation related to Naval Nuclear Propulsion

The Committee has noted the significant progress that has been made in the delivery of Pillar One of the AUKUS Partnership, which focuses on supporting Australia to acquire its first conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet.

It reports the Agreement for special attention on the grounds that it is politically important and gives rise to issues of public policy that the House may wish to debate prior to ratification.

A debate on both reports will be held on Wednesday 23 October at 4.15pm in Grand Committee.