Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Jenkins of Putney (Labour). It was answered by Baroness Chalker of Wallasey (Conservative) on Thursday, 31 October 1996.

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Chalker of Wallasey, RtHonBaroness

Question

Whether HMG agree with the Opinion of the International Court of Justice that "in view of the unique characteristics of nuclear weapons, their destructive capacity and capacity to cause untold human suffering and damage for generations to come, their use in fact seems scarcely reconcilable with respect for the law applicable in armed conflict ... the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international law", and if so whether they will move a Motion to that effect in the United Nations.

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Secondary information

Type

Oral question

Reference

575 c436-7 

Session

1996-97

Oral question type

Lead

Chamber / Committee

House of Lords chamber

Subjects

Deployment Arms control International law Nuclear weapons Policy NATO Deterrence theory