Text of Letter from Rt. Hon. Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland, to ambassadors of UK-based Missions of States Parties to the NPT

October 2007.


"I am writing to you, as representative of a State Party to the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to inform you of the Scottish Government's
views and determination to play as constructive a part as possible in
pursuing our country's nuclear disarmament obligations under the NPT. We
also intend to explore the possibility of taking up observer status at
future NPT meetings, so that we can more directly and effectively represent
the aspirations and interests of Scotland's people. In the event that we do
seek that status, I would hope we would be able to count on your
government's support.

As you may know, the United Kingdom currently deploys a 4-submarine Trident
nuclear weapon system from the Faslane Naval Base in Scotland. The UK also
stores up to 200 nuclear warheads a few miles further along the coast, in
Coulport. Last March the UK government pushed through the Westminster
Parliament a preliminary decision to renew the Trident system, thereby
signalling its intention to continue to make and deploy nuclear weapons
beyond 2050. The majority of Scottish people and their elected
representatives oppose these deployments.

In May, for the first time since the nuclear age began in 1945, the people
of Scotland elected a government that is opposed to nuclear weapons. On 14
June, the Scottish Parliament debated the following motion in relation to
the UK Government's policy on nuclear weapons:

"That the Parliament congratulates the majority of Scottish MPs for voting
on 14 March 2007 to reject the replacement of Trident, recognises that
decisions on matters of defence are matters within the responsibility of the
UK Government and Parliament and calls on the UK Government not to go ahead
at this time with the proposal in the White Paper, The Future of the United
Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent."

The Scottish Parliament showed clear and overwhelming opposition to the UK
Government's plan to replace its Trident nuclear weapons system (by 71 votes
to 16, with 39 abstentions), and widespread support for this Government's
vision of a Scotland without nuclear weapons.

During the debate, the Scottish Government signalled its intention to
reflect on the views of the majority of Scots and carefully consider which
aspects of the UK Government's plans to replace Trident impact on our
responsibilities in Scotland under devolution. We made it clear that we will
do all that we can, in light of those responsibilities, to persuade the UK
Government to change its stance both on the replacement programme and on the
general principle of maintaining and deploying nuclear weapons.

Recognising that there are a range of views on the constitutional future of
Scotland, we have embarked on a National Conversation with the Scottish
public on the options for constitutional change leading to further
development of the way we govern ourselves. As part of this debate on
Scotland's constitutional future, we will be holding a high level meeting of
key stakeholders from across Scottish life to discuss the implications of
the replacement of Trident and what a Scotland without nuclear weapons might
look like.

I would like to assure you of Scotland's deep commitment to international
peace and security, and our desire to participate in making the case for
implementation of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation provisions
of the NPT and other relevant international agreements and treaties. Please
do not hesitate to contact me if you or your government wish to discuss
these issues further.

Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP
First Minister of Scotland"