Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor John Barrett (Liberal Democrat), on Thursday, 13 March 2003, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 36 members in total.

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USE OF TOXIC GAS IN MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ

That this House notes the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention signed by the United Kingdom, United States and over 140 other countries, which prohibits the use of chemical agents that 'can cause death, temporary incapitation or permanent harm to humans' in international military conflict; further notes that it is United Kingdom policy not to allow troops to participate in operations involving the use of non-lethal or riot control gases such as o-chlorobenzylidene malonontrite (CS) gas and pepper sprays; is deeply concerned that the United States Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, has shown a willingness to use in military action against Iraq, similar toxic agents to those that resulted in the deaths of 129 hostages in the Moscow theatre siege of October 2002; is particularly disturbed by Mr Rumsfeld's suggestion that such gases could be used in situations involving women and children; and calls on the United Kingdom Government to press the United States Administration to uphold the provisions of the 1997 Convention by making a clear statement of intention not to use such toxic gases in any military action against Iraq.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received an amendment.

USE OF TOXIC GAS IN MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ (885A1)

The Early day motion has received an amendment sponsored by Teddy Taylor (primary, Conservative) and tabled on Monday, 17 March 2003. It has been signed by 2 members in total.

after 'conflict', insert 'but would not wish to disregard the consequences of materials provided to the Government of Iraq and to its Atomic Weapons Authority by the United States of America prior to the signing of the Convention; notes from a document supplied to a United States Senate Committee on 25th May 1994, that these materials include bacillus anthracis, clostridium botulinum, hisoplasma capsulatum, brucella malitensis and clostridium perfingens; believes that it would further strengthen democracy if Her Majesty's Government was to make a copy of this report available to honourable Members'.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

885 

885A1 

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Chemical and biological warfare Armed conflict Chemical weapons Chemical Weapons Convention Iraq

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk