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Proceeding contribution from Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 6 January 2010. It occurred during Debate on bill and Committee proceeding on Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill [HL].


Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill [HL]

My Lords, it is worth noting both for ourselves and for future discussions in another place that we are dealing with an extraordinarily complex situation in which 34 countries have produced 210 different types of cluster bomb, manufactured from an enormous range of different components from many factories and plants all around those 34 countries and in others as well. Therefore, I think that we recognise that finance for the production of these items is complex and diffuse. I also recognise that the provision of direct finance for cluster bomb manufacture is clearly made illegal under the convention, but that the indirect issue is much more complicated. The Minister has just spoken a few words about it. During Second Reading, she also made a Written Ministerial Statement, as did her colleague in the other place, Mr Bryant, about the need to prohibit indirect financing of cluster munitions manufacture. The suggestion was that this would be dealt with in due course. In this amendment, I am suggesting that it might be worthwhile having these requirements in the Bill. Without the risk of asking the Minister to repeat herself, will she explain a little more about how the Government plan to work with the financial sector, non-governmental organisations and other organisations to prevent this process? Do they intend further legislation as well? I beg to move.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
716 c3GC 
Session
2009-10
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords Grand Committee
Subjects
Armed conflict Arms control Cluster munitions International cooperation Powers of entry Convention on Cluster Munitions
Legislation
Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill (HL) 2009-10
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk