Written question asked by Colin Challen (Labour) on Wednesday, 4 February 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 February 2009. It was answered by Bob Ainsworth (Labour) on Monday, 23 February 2009 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Cluster Munitions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the store of cluster bombs at RAF Welford has been removed since the Government signed the Oslo convention; and whether any cluster bombs remain in the UK.

Answer: We will have eight years, from entry into force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions for the UK, to destroy all cluster munition stockpiles under UK jurisdiction and control. Lord Malloch Brown said in another place on 3 June 2008 that it was his expectation"““that there will be no such weapons on British Territory at the end of the eight year period””."Concerning any cluster munitions stored on UK territory but under United States control, we are engaged with the United States in order to meet the eight year deadline. All UK cluster munition types have been withdrawn from service. A progressive UK cluster munition disposal programme has begun, with some munitions already destroyed. We expect that all UK stockpiles will be destroyed by 2013 which we anticipate will be four or five years ahead of the deadline.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 488 c25W; 255603
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Cluster Munitions
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Cluster munitions
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk