§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of cluster bombs in urban areas of Iraq; how many cluster bombs have been used by British forces in the campaign; and what efforts are being made to minimise the risk to civilians of the use of cluster bombs. [108808]
§ Mr. Hoon[holding answer 14 April 2003]On the use of cluster bombs in urban areas in Iraq, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 14 AprilOfficial Report, column 571W to the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Mr. Price), which also explains the provisions in international law to minimise the risk to civilians. On efforts to minimise the risk to the civilian population, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 11 April Official Report, column 423W to my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Mr. Caton).
As of 9 April, United Kingdom Forces have dropped some 66 RBL755 cluster bombs in Iraq.