§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the(a) manufacture in the United Kingdom of, (b) use by United Kingdom armed forces of and (c) export of cluster bombs; [110169]
(2) if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which British armed forces use cluster bombs. [110170]
§ Mr. SpellarCluster bombs held by the Royal Air Force are manufactured in the UK by Hunting Engineering Ltd. Cluster bombs are an effective weapon both against armoured targets and area targets, such as a group of soft-skinned military vehicles. UK armed forces will always use the most appropriate weapons against a given target, acting within their Rules of Engagement, taking into account weapon effectiveness and the need to minimise collateral damage. Applications for the export of cluster bombs are considered on a case-by-case basis against criteria announced by the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997 and the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Sales.