Afghanistan (Hansard, 12 November 2001)

§ Lynne Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of the munitions used in each week of the Afghanistan campaign. [13523]

§ Mr. Hoon
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 23 October 2001,Official Report, column 114W, to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker).

§ Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of cluster bombs used in Afghanistan did not explode on impact. [14253]

§ Mr. Ingram
The cluster bombs used in Afghanistan have not been prohibited by any treaty or convention and they are employed only against legitimate terrorist and military objectives where they are the most effective weapon to attack the target concerned. All types of munitions can fail in various ways and cluster bombs are no exception. However, it is not for Her Majesty's Government to comment on the performance of US weapons.

§ Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications have taken place between his Department and operational commanders involved in military actions in Afghanistan in respect of the clear labelling of yellow cluster bombs and yellow food parcels; and what plans there are to halt the use of cluster bombs by the Allied coalition forces involved in operations in Afghanistan. [14265]

§ Mr. Ingram
We are in close touch with the US on all aspects of the response to the 11 September attacks, including at the military planning level. I understand that the US authorities have recognised that there is a problem with bomblets from cluster bombs and food parcels both being yellow. They have, therefore, dropped leaflets with diagrams of the two explaining which should be approached and which avoided.
Cluster bombs are legitimate weapons that have not been prohibited by any treaty or convention. There are no plans to halt their use against legitimate terrorist and military targets.