§ Norman LambTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's aims are at the Convention on Conventional Weapons negotiations in November; and if he will make a statement. [135848]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe Government recognises the importance of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and will continue to play an active role in the negotiations at the United Nations in Geneva. Our immediate aims for the November meeting will be to continue to work for conclusion of an agreement on a new and legally binding instrument on Explosive548W Remnants of War (ERW) and to reach consensus on a negotiating mandate for 2004 to take forward constructive work on Mines Other Than Anti-Personnel Mines (MOTAPMS).
§ Norman LambTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department's representatives at the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons negotiations in November will seek agreement on a mandate for future negotiations on cluster munitions. [135849]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe UK will seek a mandate for negotiations on an instrument that could contain technical standards to be phased in for cluster munitions. This would aim to improve the reliability of cluster munitions so that fewer of them remain unexploded.