§ Baroness Rawlingsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether a more intrusive system is needed to monitor weapons development in Iraq; and, if so, what action they are taking to ensure that the proposed United Nations Commission on Investigation, Inspection and Monitoring will provide such a system; and whether this is supported by other members of the Security Council; and [HL2638]
Whether Iraq is fulfilling its United Nations obligations to disarm; whether a more intrusive system is needed to monitor disarmament in Iraq; and, if so, what action they are taking to ensure that such a system is implemented; and whether this is supported by other members of the Security Council. [HL2639]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe report of the panel established by the UN to consider disarmament issues explicitly recognised that Iraq had not met its disarmament obligations and that important questions remained unanswered. It also specifically endorsed the intrusive inspection regime provided for in earlier Security Council resolutions. It advocated a reinforced monitoring regime, integrating the disarmament and monitoring functions, and recognised that this would need in some ways to be more, not less, intrusive than before. To implement these recommendations, the UK/Dutch draft Security Council resolution creates a new body, the UN Commission on Inspection and Monitoring. UNCIM would have all UNSCOM's powers, rights and responsibilities and would be a larger and better-resourced organisation. Discussion on our draft continue in the Security Council.