HL Deb 20 February 1992 vol 535 cc1361-3

3.10 p.m.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they are taking in the light of Saddam Hussein's repudiation of the terms of the United Nations Security Council's resolution imposing long-term monitoring of the Iraqi arms industry.

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, a special mission headed by the executive chairman of the special commission will arrive in Iraq tomorrow with the purpose of securing the unconditional agreement by Iraq to implement all its obligations under the relevant resolutions. The mission will stress the serious consequences if such agreement is not forthcoming. We strongly support the mission. We are firmly committed to the work of the UN Special Commission and its calls for Iraq to comply fully with all Security Council resolutions

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Will one of the mission's objectives be to ensure that there is a proper investigation of the production of weapons of mass destruction? Will it show full determination to stop that production so long as Saddam Hussein is there?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, yes; and that will be backed up by another team led by a UK chief inspector which will be going out on Friday.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, we warmly welcome what the Minister said about the visit to Iraq of the United Nations commission. We wish it every success. Is not evidence accumulating week by week that the regime in Baghdad is flouting United Nations resolutions? Is there any evidence that any progress is being made by the team which is supposed to be inspecting the stations where there are the weapons of mass destruction referred to by the noble Lord, Lord Boyd-Carpenter? Has any progress been made?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, it is because of the anxieties that we, among other countries, have raised, that the special mission, headed by the executive chairman, is going to Iraq, so as to draw to Iraq's attention the serious consequences of not complying with Security Council resolutions. Inspectors have discovered an undeclared biological research programme for military purposes, but no evidence of weapons production; some 46,000 filled chemical munitions; 79,000 unfilled chemical munitions; over 600 tonnes of chemical weapon agent; 3,000 tonnes of chemical precursors; and they have supervised the destruction of 62 ballistic missiles; 10 missile launchers; an assembled 350 mm supergun; and components for a 350 mm and a 1,000 mm supergun.

Lord Tordoff

My Lords, does the Minister accept that the United Nations teams which have been to Iraq are greatly to be congratulated on the work that they have done, not just because of what they have discovered, as the Minister has just told us, but because of the great courage and determination that they have shown in achieving those ends? Nevertheless, does not considerable worry exist as to what can be done with that information and what power the international community has to proceed? Can the Minister assist us?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I am sure that the whole House would wish to join the noble Lord, Lord Tordoff, in the first question that he asked, for which I thank him. The investigators and the commission have done an excellent job in somewhat difficult circumstances. We should await the result of the executive chairman's visit before deciding what further action, if any, is necessary.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, if further military action against Iraq turns out to be necessary, will the Government bear in mind that the main reason why the United Nations has not, in the past half century, been able to provide the peace in the world that it was meant to do is now a thing of the past? That reason was the unwillingness of the United States and the Soviet Union to agree about anything. Will the Government do what they can to ensure that United Nations action is taken through the United Nations machinery of the military staff committee, under a United Nations commander reporting to that staff committee, and not by a private collection of volunteer nations as it was last time?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the noble Lord poses some interesting questions, but at the moment they are hypothetical.

Lord Chalfont

My Lords, does the Minister agree that the detection of chemical and biological warfare preparations is one of the most difficult forms of verification which has stood in the way until now of an international treaty on that subject? In that context, will he say to what extent the United Nations teams will be in possession of the intelligence material available to the West which makes it clear that Saddam Hussein is still involved in a biological, chemical and nuclear weapons programme.

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I am sure that the inspectors have all the information necessary to enable them to carry out their task.