HL Deb 21 November 2001 vol 628 cc140-1WA
Baroness Ludford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have made to the United States authorities with regard to the use of cluster bombs in Afghanistan; and what is the Government's policy with regard to the use of cluster bombs (a) in Afghanistan and (b) more generally. [HL1231]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)

We are in close touch with the US on all aspects of the response to the 11 September attacks, including at the military planning level.

Cluster bombs are legitimate weapons that have not been prohibited by any treaty or convention. Only a limited number have been used in Afghanistan and all those used contain bomblets designed to detonate on impact and to destroy buildings and vehicles. They are not designed primarily as anti-personnel weapons and do not contain any landmines. They are the most effective weapon against certain targets.

Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In view of their dual objectives of winning both the military and humanitarian campaigns against terrorism based in Afghanistan, whether they will review the use of cluster bombs, given the dangerous implications of the failure rate of those bombs for civilians in the short and long-term aftermath of any bombing raid. [HL1389]

Lord Bach

Cluster bombs are employed only against legitimate terrorist and military objectives where they are the most effective weapon to attack the target concerned. The coalition does everything it can to keep risks to civilians to an absolute minimum.

The UK is committed to a long-term process of reconstruction in Afghanistan and we are considering ways that disposal of unexploded ordnance could form part of that process.