UN Security Council: Permanent Members and Veto

HL Deb 02 February 2004 vol 656 cc71-2WA

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will review the criteria governing the use of veto power by permanent members of the United Nations Security Council; and whether they consider that these criteria should be re-defined and narrowed. [HL932]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

There are no criteria governing the use of the veto. Under Article 27(3) of the UN charter the veto applies to decisions of the Security Council on all other (i.e. non-procedural) matters.

The UK encourages all permanent members of the Security Council to use the veto with restraint and only in accordance with the values of the United Nations. The UK last used the veto in 1989, jointly with the US and France, and has not used it alone since 1972.

Formally changing the scope of application of the veto would require a change in the UN charter. This is unlikely and we are not pursuing such a change.