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Strategic Export Controls

I agree. My views on cluster munitions go beyond those of the Committees. Although the right hon. Gentleman must speak for himself, I suspect that what he just said goes beyond what the Committees have said, but he is absolutely right. In a personal capacity, I have met the Secretary of State for Defence and other Ministers to discuss the issue. I remain unconvinced that there is a case for the Government to retain their so-called smart cluster munitions. I do not think that a good military case has been made at all, and the implications in terms of civilian casualties are so great that I strongly support the tightest possible international ban on cluster munitions. I am also aware that thus far the text will allow for the introduction of exemptions. I am simply passing on to the Minister my personal view—I suspect that it is shared by other Members—that we do not want exemptions; we want a complete ban on the use of cluster munitions. The ban on anti-personnel land mines involved a similar argument, as the right hon. Gentleman said. The Government led the way on that issue, and I hope that they will do the same on this one.