HL Deb 16 March 1971 vol 316 cc309-11

2.32 p.m.

LORD REA

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will take steps to seek international co-operation in the outlawing of napalm as an anti-personnel weapon.]

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, the question of the use of napalm in armed conflict was among a number of subjects considered recently by the United Nations Secretary-General in his two reports, Respect for Human Rights in Armed Conflicts. It was suggested in particular that the Secretary-General might be asked to prepare, with the assistance of qualified experts, a study on napalm weapons and the effects of their possible use. The Secretary-General's two reports will be discussed by a conference of Governmental experts to be held in Geneva this spring under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Her Majesty's Government have accepted an invitation to participate in the conference.

LORD REA

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer, which I must say gives me much more pleasure than I feared I should get. May I assure him that any move in this direction which Her Majesty's Government take will be very much supported by members of all Parties throughout the country?

LORD DAVIES OF LEEK

My Lords, does the noble Earl realise that many of us, in all parts of the House and throughout the country, can see no difference whatsoever between napalm being dropped upon poor, underprivileged people and mediæval stories of people being burned at the stake? Nay, it is worse; and I hope that when our Party go forward in Government they will have the courage to speak out vociferously against this weapon, which I consider one of the greatest evils of modern times.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I realise that the view which the noble Lord has expressed is widely held. I would only say that, as a weapon, napalm is not in itself necessarily considered bad; but the method by which it is used is.

LORD WYNNE-JONES

My Lords, will the noble Earl bear in mind that in this House on a previous occasion there was very considerable feeling about the whole business of chemical and biological warfare, of which napalm is a part; and would he make certain that the Government take every action to discontinue its use, and encourage other countries to do the same?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I think it would be fair to say that it is not always accepted that napalm comes under the category of chemical and biological weapons. But it would be premature for the Government to make any statement such as the noble Lord suggests until they have seen the report of the United Nations which is being discussed, as I said originally, by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

LORD WYNNE-JONES

My Lords, napalm is almost certainly a chemical.

EARL FERRERS

But it does not necessarily come within the strict definition of chemical and biological warfare.