Written question asked by Peter Kilfoyle (Labour) on Monday, 17 March 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 March 2003. It was answered by Baroness Harman (Labour) on Monday, 24 March 2003 on behalf of the Solicitor General.

Solicitor-General

Question: To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 17th March to the honourable Member for Stone, 401 c515W, what advice the Attorney General has given the Government on war with Iraq without explicit United Nations authorisation. - Inc ref to 401 c515W, 17 March 2003.

Answer: Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2003, Official Report, column 515W, to the hon. Member for Stone, what advice the Attorney-General has given the Government on war with Iraq without explicit United Nations authorisation. [103971] The Solicitor-General: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 17 March 2003, Official Report, column 515W, to the hon. Member for Stone, in which I set out the terms of a written answer by the Attorney- General to a question from Baroness Ramsay on his view of the legal basis for the use of force against Iraq. By longstanding convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact and substance of Law Officers advice is not disclosed outside Government. This convention is referred to in paragraph 24 of the ministerial code.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 103971; 402 c21W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Disclosure of information Armed conflict Iraq Legal opinion International law United Nations Iraq conflict
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk