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Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill [Lords]

I understood from the more recent speeches by the hon. Gentleman's right hon. and hon. Friends that the Conservative party was now in favour of the European Defence Agency. This is not one of the competences that we think the EU should have, but as I have already said, we believe as signatories to the convention that it is part of our obligation to try to ensure that the whole world resiles from the use of cluster munitions, and we will continue to try to achieve that. In response to the hon. and gallant Member for North-East Milton Keynes, the convention is pretty clear about the definition of a mine as""a munition designed to be placed… on or near the ground or other surface area and to be exploded by… proximity"," and therefore not by contact. The method of delivery is not relevant. I wish to clarify to the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) that I was slightly wrong in saying that the convention comes into force when the 30th signatory ratifies it; it comes into force on 1 August 2010, as long as the 30th ratification is reached.