§ Sir Peter Emeryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence has been provided to Her Majesty's Government about the use of chemical warfare in the conflict between Iraq and Iran, what examination Her Majesty's Government have made of such evidence; what action Her Majesty's Government have taken to condemn the use of these chemical weapons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonOn 14 March 1986 the Secretary General released the report of a team of specialists on allegations of the use of chemical weapons in the conflict between Iran and Iraq. In his covering note the Secretary General stated that the specialists had confirmed the use of chemical weapons by Iraqi forces against Iranian forces in the course of the present Iranian offensive into Iraqi territory. The report is being considered by the United Nations Security Council and the United Kingdom is closely involved in these discussions. Our policy on chemical weapons is well known: we condemn the use of chemical weapons wherever and whenever it occurs, including the clear breach of the Geneva protocol detailed in the Secretary General's report.
§ Sir Peter Emeryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have condemned the shooting down of a civilian aircraft by an Iraqi fighter plane over Iranian airspace; what advice he has given to British passengers travelling in Iran; and what representations he has made to the Government of Iraq over this matter.
§ Mr. RentonWe condemn the destruction of any aircraft in commercial use and consider that the use of armed force against civil aviation is incompatible with the norms governing international behaviour. We fully supported Security Council resolution 582, which was unanimously adopted on 24 February, and which deplored 261W attacks on civilian aircraft. At present no British aircraft fly into Iran. British passengers on other airlines who make inquiries are advised of the current threat to Iranian airspace.