§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 28 April (WA 65), when and in what circumstance the Manual of Military Law, contributed to in relation to international humanitarian law by Sir Hersch Lauterpacht and Colonel Gerald Draper, ceased to be published and issued to Members of the Armed Forces, and what written guidance is now published and issued in its place. [HL2727]
§ Lord Bach:The Manual of Military Law has not been formally withdrawn. A new manual which will deal with the law of armed conflict for all three services, and which will for the Army replace Part III of the manual (The Law of War on Land), is in course of preparation. It is intended that this manual should 131WA in due course be published as a joint service publication.
Legal advisers are available to commanders at all appropriate levels in the operational chain of command, and they have access to the legal resources necessary to enable them properly to advise. The Rules of Engagement under which United Kingdom Armed Forces operate in any overseas theatre of military operations are always consistent with the UK's international law obligations, and with the provisions of UK domestic law that apply to personnel serving overseas.