§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with President Bush on the use of cluster bombs by coalition forces in Afghanistan; and what restrictions were agreed on their use. [11443]
§ The Prime MinisterI am in close contact with the US on all aspects of the response to the 11 September attacks, including at the military planning level.
The cluster bombs used in Afghanistan do not contain anti-personnel landmines and are therefore legitimate weapons which have not been prohibited by any treaty or convention. They are used with discretion and
608Wfor prosecution rose from 1,603 in 1998–99 to 2,417 in 1999–2000. Prosecutions were brought against 1,832 defendants (76 per cent.) on 2,651 charges. Guilty pleas were tendered on 66 per cent. of the charges and there were convictions after trial on another 12 per cent. of the charges. In total 2,078 (79 per cent.) of the 2,651 charges prosecuted resulted in convictions.
Almost half the prosecutions prosecuted were new offences of racially aggravated crime brought under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which came into force in September 1999. A high proportion of the remaining offences contained admissible evidence of racial aggravation and were prosecuted under other legislation.
proportionality as international law requires, and against legitimate and appropriate terrorist and military targets that are selected with great care.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Prime Minister if he will consult President Bush on initiating talks with the Government of Iraq concerning the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. [9873]
§ The Prime MinisterI am in regular contact with President Bush on a wide range of issues including those relating to the current situation in Afghanistan. There are no plans at present to discuss initiating talks with the Government of Iraq.