To ask the Attorney-General what discussions have taken place in the past year in the North Atlantic Council on the International Court of Justice's advisory opinions of 8 July 1996 on the legality of nuclear weapons. [4912]

I have been asked to reply.The advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of nuclear weapons has been discussed in NATO, in particular by the Staff Group of the Nuclear Planning Group. NATO allies agree that the Alliance's strategy of war prevention, including its nuclear component, is fully compatible with the United Nations Charter and international law.