§ Mr. CanavanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on the resolution to be considered by the First Committee of the UN General Assembly on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons. [14721]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe are committed to the goal of nuclear disarmament and continue to hold the International Court of Justice in high regard. We have said that we will press for multilateral negotiations towards mutual, balanced and verifiable reductions in nuclear weapons and, when satisfied with progress, will ensure that British nuclear weapons are included in multilateral negotiations. We will, however, vote against the resolution because of its selective quotation of the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion on the threat or use of nuclear weapons, and its unrealistic call for time-bound multilateral negotiations.