§ Mr. Robin F. Cookasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy in regard to the 1977 session of the Diplomatic Conference on international humanitarian law in armed conflicts, particularly in relation to the Ad Hoc Committee on Conventional Weapons.
§ Mr. LuardIt is the Government's policy to work for a successful outcome to the deliberations of the Diplomatic Conference as a whole, including the Ad Hoc Committee on Conventional Weapons. In considering possible prohibitions or restrictions on the use of certain weapons, we support those proposals 73W which embody genuine humanitarian benefit, are based on unambiguous scientific evidence and are acceptable to militarily significant States.
§ Mr. Robin F. Cookasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government accept the Diplomatic Conference as an appropriate context for an agreement on the prohibition of conventional weapons which are contrary to humanitarian law.
§ Mr. LuardYes, provided that this does not impede the primary task of the Conference which is to conclude two Additional Protocols to the 1949 Geneva Conventions on the Protection of Victims of War.