HL Deb 05 July 1999 vol 603 cc62-3WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Govemrnent:

Whether NATO intends to carry out a detailed and comprehensive survey of the social, political and environmental effects of the bombing campaign in Serbia identifying the effects of the various weapons used and as far as possible estimating the costs of reconstruction and rehabilitation which will fall to the Allies. [HL3263]

Lord Gilbert

NATO will not be carrying out such an exercise. However, the United Nations Environment Programme and the UN Commission on Human Settlements have set up a joint task force to assess the environmental and health effects of the conflict. The European Union and the World Bank are taking the lead in assessing regional needs for reconstruction and recovery.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether NATO intends to carry out a detailed and comprehensive survey of the social. political and environmental effects of the bombing campaign in Serbia as far as possible to identify those aspects of the campaign which were not fully in accord with conventional humanitarian law. [HL3264]

Lord Gilbert

The air campaign was carried out scrupulously in accordance with international law. There is, therefore, no need to carry out such a survey.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether NATO intends to carry out a detailed and comprehensive survey of the military effects of the bombing campaign in Serbia identifying the effects of the various weapons used. [HL3262]

Lord Gilbert

NATO intends to conduct a comprehensive internal lessons-learned exercise which will take into account the effects of the bombing campaign.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will review the quality and accuracy of the information promulgated by NATO during the Kosovo campaign, and consider how far departure from strict accuracy in such operations should be permitted. [HL3265]

Lord Gilbert

As far as the Government is aware, all statements made by NATO during the Kosovo campaign were based on the most accurate information available at the time.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether NATO propose to revise any of the statements made by them about the proportion of the Yugoslav forces which were destroyed or put out of action. [HL3266]

Lord Gilbert

As far as the Government is aware, NATO has no intention of revising such statements, which were based on the most accurate information available at the time.