HC Deb 23 March 1994 vol 240 cc290-1W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will abide by the opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal status in international law of the United Kingdom nuclear weapons policy.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We are not prepared to conjecture about what conclusions the International Court of Justice might reach on this issue.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to other Commonwealth countries in respect of their making submissions to the International Court of Justice on the legality of nuclear weapons.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We will be making our own submission to the International Court of Justice on this question, and the subject has been discussed with other states in the course of normal diplomatic exchanges.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will define the terms "strategic" and "sub-strategic" as currently used by his Department.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

These terms relate to the type of action to which a nuclear weapon would contribute. Sub-strategic weapons provide the ability to take action more limited than a strategic strike.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the referral to the International Court of Justice for clarification of international law as regards nuclear weapons.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave him on 1 February, at column605.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what part Her Majesty's Government will play in European Union submissions to the International Court of Justice as to the legality of nuclear weapons.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The submission of statements to the International Court of Justice is a matter for individual member states.