HL Deb 22 July 1991 vol 531 cc41-3WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of the number of children who were at risk from the effects of the allied bombing of Iraq during the Gulf War.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (The Earl of Arran)

The Ministry of Defence has conducted no such assessment.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have enquired of the United States Government if it has conducted any comprehensive or other assessment of the damage done to the Iraqi economy by the allied bombing and if not, whether they will do so now; and if such an assessment has been or is being conducted, they will ask to see it.

The Earl of Arran

The US authorities have confirmed to us that they have not produced any recent comprehensive bomb damage assessment.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether in their view, if they have not seen the United States' own study of the damage done by allied bombing in Iraq, "disproportionate" physical damage was done to Iraq's civilian population and infrastructure by that bombing.

The Earl of Arran

The Ministry of Defence has conducted no comprehensive assessment of the effects of the conflict in Iraq. It was coalition policy only to attack military targets or facilities supporting Iraq's illegal occupation of Kuwait.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether during hostilities against Iraq they interpreted the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions as allowing unlimited damage and destruction to the Iraqi civil economy.

The Earl of Arran

United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 of 29th November 1990 authorised member states co-operating with the Government of Kuwait to use all necessary means to uphold and implement Security Council Resolution 660 and all other resolutions and to restore international peace and security in the area. It was the common understanding, reflected at all times in the practice of coalition forces, that member states acting under that authorisation remained bound by the principles and rules of international law regulating the conduct of armed conflict. As to those principles and rules, I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given to him by my noble Friend the Earl of Caithness on 4th February, at col. WA37.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they agree with the interpretation of the Geneva Conventions that holds that, while Iraqi civilians might not be targeted, their means of livelihood and health might be targeted; whether this was the interpretation of the convention adopted by those engaged in planning the bombing of Iraq; and whether they agree with the United States Secretary of Defense, who is reported as saying that every Iraqi target was "perfectly legitimate".

The Earl of Arran

The Geneva Conventions contain no provisions expressly regulating targeting in armed conflict. The Hague Regulations of 1907 and customary international law do, however, incorporate the twin principles of distinction between military and civilian objects, and of proportionality so far as the risk of collateral civilian damage from an attack on a military objective is concerned.

These principles and associated rules of international law were observed at all times by coalition forces in the planning and execution of attacks against Iraq. I understand that Mr. Cheney has made clear his belief that every Iraqi target selected by the coalition forces was perfectly legitimate.