§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
On what other occasions have they preferred to act through the UN Security Council rather than in accordance with an operative international convention to which they are a party; and
Whether they prefer the creation of international law by Security Council resolutions (which cannot be revised and from which there is no appeal) to its development by way of negotiated conventions and treaties.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (The Earl of Caithness)International law can be created by a variety of means, including mandatory Security Council resolutions and negotiated conventions and treaties. We use whichever means is suitable to the subject matter. The crucial point is that the law should be respected.