Nuclear Weapons (Hansard, 28 February 1994)

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Medical Association and Department of Health will be consulted on the health effects of nuclear weapons.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
As I said in my answer on 1 February, c.605, our submission to the International Court of Justice will set out the position of the Government on this question. We shall therefore be consulting relevant Government Departments.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 605, when he will be making his submission to the International Court of Justice on the legality of nuclear weapons.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We shall make our submission before 10 June.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of I February,Official Report, column 605, whether Her Majesty's Government's submission to the International Court of Justice on the legality of nuclear weapons will be published in advance.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
No. Under rule 106 of the rules of the International Court of Justice it is for the court to decide, following the opening of an oral hearing, whether to publish submissions.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 605, what consultations he will hold before submission of Her Majesty's Government's report on the legality of nuclear weapons to the International Court of Justice.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We will be consulting relevant Government Departments. We have discussed this question with allies in the past and may do so again if necessary.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 605, if his submission to the International Court of Justice on the legality of nuclear weapons will support the legality of (a) the use and (b) the possession of nuclear weapons.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
It will.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 605, whether Her Majesty's Government's submission to the International Court of Justice on the legality of nuclear weapons will be laid before the House of Commons.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
A copy of our submission to the International Court of Justice will be placed in the Library of the House if and when the court has ordered publication of submissions to it.