Lord Jenkinsof Putney asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they agree with the International Court of Justice Opinion given by Mr. Rupert Ticehurst that, "At the very least the United Kingdom must accept that the legality of its Trident programme is brought into considerable doubt by the ICJ Opinion. Its continued deployment raises very important legal and military issues which must as a matter of urgency be addressed". [HL1428]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe ICJ did not consider nuclear weapons, as such, to be unlawful. The legality of the use of nuclear weapons would depend on all the circumstances at the time. The Opinion does not require a change in the United Kingdom's entirely defensive nuclear deterrence policy.