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Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill [Lords]

I understand the nature of the argument made by the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington), but I want to explain why I think he is wrong. Clause 2(1) applies to conduct in the United Kingdom or elsewhere—that is about conduct—and clause 2(2) applies to""assistance, encouragement and inducements in the United Kingdom or elsewhere."" However, clause 4(3) applies to what happens outside the United Kingdom. Although it is perfectly legitimate for us to extend the provisions that we make for British people who engage in such activity outside the United Kingdom, creating an offence for people who are not British and who are from other parts of the world, over whom we therefore have no jurisdiction, would be inappropriate. Article 9 of the convention on cluster munitions, on which all our legislation has been based, obliges state parties to impose penal sanctions to prevent any prohibited activity from being""undertaken by persons or on territory under its jurisdiction or control."" Obviously, the rest of the world is not under our jurisdiction or control. That is why we have not sought to act against foreigners abroad. We are acting against British people abroad, and against anybody in the UK, but not against foreigners abroad.