§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the United Kingdom has not ratified the 1977 first and second additional protocols to the Geneva conventions of 1949; whether there is any intention to review the decision; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonWe support the aim and spirit of the additional protocols which we signed in 1977. The present position is that we are consulting with our NATO partners but I am not able to say when we may proceed with ratification.