§ Lord BOSTON of FAVERSHAMasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will state what stage has now been reached in the work of the Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts, what are the next steps envisaged and what part they are playing in any such steps.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSThe Conference completed the task for which it was convoked by the adoption on 10th June 1977, of the texts of two Protocols additional to the 1949 Geneva Conventions. It is now for Governments to consider whether to sign and eventually ratify the Protocols. The consideration and consultation necessary to enable Her Majesty's Government to take a decision on signature by the United Kingdom is under way.
The Conference did not reach any conclusions on the question of possible prohibitions or restrictions on the use of certain conventional weapons. A resolution of the Conference, co-sponsored by the United Kingdom and adopted by consensus, recommended that this question be considered by a further conference to 964WA be convened not later than 1979. Consultations on the organisation of the preparatory work for this conference will take place within the next few months. Her Majesty's Government intend to participate in these consultations and in the further work on this subject.