§ Mr. SutcliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Government plan to ratify the 1981 UN convention on inhumane weapons, in relation to the use of land mines.
§ Mr. FreemanWe continue to work actively towards ratification of the UN weaponry convention—protocol II of which contains strict rules governing the use of land mines—and intend to complete the process so as to be a full state party for next year's weaponry convention review conference. Meanwhile, we do, of course, adhere strictly to the provisions of the convention.