Israel and Lebanon: Cluster Munitions

Answer: My Lords, the Government pay great tribute to the teams working on the de-mining processes in southern Lebanon and elsewhere. As for the abolition of cluster bombs, we warmly welcome the Oslo process and the excellent work done to ensure that dumb cluster bombs are no longer legal.

This is an answer to the Oral question asked on Monday, 9 July 2007 by Lord Dubs (Labour).

Question: My Lords, I am grateful for that Answer. I should declare an interest in that a few weeks ago I was in southern Lebanon looking at the process of clearing these dreadful weapons. Is my noble friend aware that the teams clearing these cluster munitions said that it would be enormously helpful in their dangerous work if they had the co-ordinates of the shells that launched them? Does she further agree that it is unacceptable for any country to use weapons that harm civilian populations long after the conflict is over and that it is only right to go on demanding that all countries should make such information available—or, better still, to ban the weapons altogether?

Secondary information

Type: Oral answer to question
Reference: 693 c1228-9
Session: 2006-07
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Disclosure of information Armed conflict Cluster munitions Bomb disposal Location United Nations Israel Middle East Lebanon
Link: View this Oral answer to question on www.publications.parliament.uk