To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government’s policy is on the banning of the (a) manufacture and (b) use of cluster munitions; and if she will make a statement. (101623)

[holding answer 21 November 2006]: The UK is committed to phasing out its ‘dumb’ cluster munitions and is also encouraging other countries to do so. We led and achieved consensus at the recent Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Review Conference for governmental experts to consider urgently existing International Humanitarian Law and the reliability of cluster munitions and report back to the CCW within 12 months. This process will include the main users and producers of cluster munitions and is an essential preliminary step towards any negotiations on a new legally binding protocol which may include manufacture, stockpiling, use and transfer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what definitions the Government uses of (a) smart cluster munitions and (b) dumb cluster munitions. (101624)

[holding answer 21 November 2006]: There is no internationally agreed definition of cluster munitions or any variant. However, we plan to phase out what we understand to be ‘dumb’ cluster munitions. These house numerous sub-munitions with an explosive content. Additionally, they either do not have a target discriminatory capability or a self destruct, neutralisation or deactivating capability in the event of failing to detonate prior to, on or immediately after impact with the target.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which (a) makes and (b) models of cluster munitions the Government defines as (i) smart and (ii) dumb. (101625)

[holding answer 21 November 2006]: There is no internationally agreed definition of cluster munitions or any variant. The UK understanding of ‘dumb’ cluster munitions is that they contain numerous sub-munitions with an explosive content. Additionally, they do not have a target discriminatory capability or they do not have a self destruct, neutralisation or deactivating capability in the event of failing to detonate prior to, on or immediately after impact with the target. In this context, the term ‘smart’ is not defined. Variants of the cluster munitions within operational stocks held by the UK that fall within our understanding of dumb cluster munitions are:

Air Delivered RBL 755

Ground launched MLRS M26

The UK holds other munitions which contain submunitions, but which we do not consider to fall within the term dumb.

Ground launched Extended Range Bomblet Shell L20A1

Multi Purpose Sub-Munition CRV-7.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government have ratified Protocol V of the Connections on certain conventional weapons; and if she will make a statement. (101626)

[holding answer 21 November 2006]: The UK fully intends to ratify Protocol V as soon as possible. The UK already adopts the principles enshrined within Protocol V to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that Explosive Remnants of War remaining after conflict are cleared.