Written question asked by Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 18 January 2022, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 1 February 2022. It was answered by Baroness Goldie (Conservative) on Thursday, 27 January 2022 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Autonomous Weapons: Treaties

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the International Committee for the Red Cross’s analysis that a new legally-binding instrument, including prohibitions and positive obligations, is required to regulate autonomous weapons systems.

Answer: We regularly engage with a wide range of stakeholders on lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS), including those - such as the International Committee of the Red Cross - that believe a new legally binding instrument on LAWS is necessary. The UK does not support calls for a legally binding instrument on LAWS. Our view remains that International Humanitarian Law (IHL) provides a robust, principle-based framework for the regulation of weapons development and use, and we will continue to engage at the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons seeking to clarify the prohibitions and positive obligations around the use of autonomous weapon systems under IHL.

Secondary information