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Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill [HL]

My Lords, this amendment is part of a general concern about how the authorities, Parliament and the public can keep track of what is happening; for example, whether the convention has been signed, the laws have been passed or the signatories have signed. The question will then hang in the air as to how we ensure that things are happening: for example, that stockpiles are being reduced, that manufacturing is ceasing and that these horrific weapons are being banished from the face of the earth, except for the permitted purposes which we discussed earlier in our debate. This amendment would require the Secretary of State to have from everyone who holds cluster munitions, for the various permitted purposes under Clause 6 et cetera, a mandatory report not less frequently than annually on the quantity being held and the reasons why, including whether the reasons given in the first place are still valid. This might make it easier to monitor who has these munitions, why they are being kept and the numbers, which would improve transparency and the ability to review the permissions and licences to retain cluster munitions each year. Overall, the intention is to ensure that cluster munitions are not being kept unnecessarily and that the pattern of reduction and elimination is being pursued. I realise that Article 7 of the convention places a duty on each states party to report progress on implementing the convention no less than 180 days after its entering into force. All states parties are required to meet under the UN Secretary-General within one year of entry into force. Those are grand occasions when Governments and signatories will meet together to say what has been done. In the mean time, we need to see a flow of information to the separate states parties—in our case to our Secretary of State—about what is really happening. When these grander occasions occur our Government would be able to put forward a clear statement of where we have got to, the progress we have made, the difficulties that have been encountered, any reservations that we may have and how the whole spirit of the convention is being turned into realistic and genuine progress. I beg to move.