§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government expect to ratify (i) the additional protocols to the Geneva conventions and (ii) the 1981 inhumane weapons convention.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe have made clear our intention to ratify the additional protocols to the Geneva conventions at an early opportunity. This depends, however, in part on securing parliamentary time for domestic legislation which will be required for ratification.
We expect to ratify the 1981 inhumane weapons convention within the next few weeks - in good time to be states parties for the review conference of the convention due to take place in September of this year.