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Lok Sabha
The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh told the Lok Sabha today that India and the UK are engaged in a comprehensive dialogue as part of their close and multi-faceted relationship. In September 2004, Prime Ministers of the two countries launched a Joint Declaration “Towards New and Dynamic Partnership” in which they agreed to expand cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear activities in accordance with their international obligations.
The Minister further informed the house that the Government of UK is an active member of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG). The UK earlier had a policy of denying export licensing applications for items listed in the NSG dual use list to nuclear and nuclear related end users in India, which exceeded the restrictions imposed by NSG.
The Minister added that recently the UK Government has adjusted its policy with regard to nuclear related transfers and scientific contacts with India in line with their NSG commitments. Accordingly, while the UK will continue to deny applications in respect of items on the NSG Dual Use list when they are destined for unsafeguarded nuclear fuel cycle or nuclear explosive activities, it will now consider on a case-by-case basis license applications for items on the NSG Dual Use list destined for other activities in India.
The above information was given by the Minister in reply to a question by Smt. D. Purandeswari.
AK/SK/JA
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