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Back to Proliferation in Parliament, Summer 2009
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Fife North East, on 1 June 2009, Official Report, columns 48-49W, on white phosphorus, in which theatres of operation UK forces have used white phosphorus in the last 10 years; and whether his Department has taken steps to establish the long-term health effects of such usage on people exposed to the munitions.
21 July 2009 : Column 1210W
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: In the last five years, white phosphorus munitions have been used by UK forces in both the Iraq and Afghanistan theatres of operation, information covering the last 10 years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
White phosphorus munitions are only used by UK forces to protect troops on operations by producing a smoke screen to provide cover in accordance with the Third Protocol of the UN Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the use of Certain Conventional Weapons, ratified by the UK in 1995, when it became illegal to use white phosphorus as a primary incendiary weapon under UK law. Training of UK forces in the use of white phosphorus emphasises that it should only be used for its intended purpose; as an obscurant and not as an anti-personnel weapon. White phosphorus is always used in accordance with UK Rules of Engagement and UK forces will do their utmost to avoid civilian casualties, whatever weapons are being deployed.
The Ministry of Defence has not carried out any work on possible long-term
health effects resulting from exposure to white phosphorous.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/
cm090721/text/90721w0020.htm#09072245000105
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times thermobaric weapons have been used by UK armed forces in each of the last 12 months.
Bill Rammell [holding answer 23 June 2009]: UK armed forces use variants of the AGM-114N Hellfire missile, which is an enhanced blast weapon, in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence does not classify this weapon as thermobaric. It is, however, sometimes referred to as such in the media. The following table provides details of the number of enhanced blast munitions fired on operations over the last 12 months.
| Number | |
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether civilians and non-combatants have been injured during operations by British military personnel using white phosphorus in (a) Iraq, (b) Afghanistan and (c) elsewhere in the last 10 years; what his policy is on the use of white phosphorus munitions by British forces; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: White phosphorus munitions are only used by UK forces to protect troops on operations by producing a smoke screen to provide cover in accordance with the Third Protocol of the UN Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the use of Certain Conventional Weapons, ratified by the UK in 1995, when it became illegal to use white phosphorus as a primary incendiary weapon under UK law. Training of UK forces in the use of white phosphorus emphasises that it should only be used for its intended purpose; as an obscurant and not as an anti-personnel weapon.
The Government do not collate figures for civilian casualties in Afghanistan,
Iraq or on other operations. Every effort is made to avoid civilian casualties
in all theatres, and any that are the result of action by UK armed forces are
always a matter of profound regret.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/
cm090706/text/90706w0013.htm#09070625000128
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions; and when he expects the ratification process to be completed.
Mr. Ivan Lewis: It is the Government's intention to ratify the Convention
as soon as possible. In accordance with Article 9 of the Convention of Cluster
Munitions, the criminal offences to enforce the Convention's prohibitions on
use, development, production, stockpiling, retention and transfer of cluster
munitions need to be in place before ratification. A Cluster Munitions Prohibitions
Bill which will create the necessary criminal offences has a place in the Government's
Draft Legislative Programme that was published on 29 June 2009.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/
cm090702/text/90702w0006.htm#09070268000082
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any munitions containing white phosphorus manufactured in the UK have been used in theatres of operation involving UK armed forces in the last 10 years.
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The UK armed forces inventory does include some white phosphorous munitions that were manufactured in the UK. They were manufactured
1 Jun 2009 : Column 49W
over 10 years ago and have been used by UK forces in theatres of operation
within the last 10 years to protect troops on operations by producing a smoke
screen to provide cover.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/
cm090601/text/90601w0011.htm#09060131000073
Question Asked by Baroness Northover
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions which they signed last year.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness
Taylor of Bolton): In order to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions,
the necessary domestic legislation has to be passed first. Preparatory work
has begun on this and a draft Bill will be brought forward as soon as parliamentary
time allows.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/
ldhansrd/text/90514w0001.htm#09051455000844
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