Cluster Munitions

Mr. Moore
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the outcome of the Oslo conference on cluster munitions; and how her Department plans to implement the agreement reached at the conference.

Margaret Beckett
The UK is pleased to be able to support the Oslo Declaration, committing us to work towards a new legally binding instrument on cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians. The UK's interpretive statement at Oslo explains how this fits with our national policy available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at:

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&cid=1163677198241.

We will pursue the aim agreed at Oslo with all the users and producers through the convention on certain conventional weapons and other relevant fora.

Mr. Moore
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her (a) US, (b) Russian, (c) Chinese and (d) Israeli counterparts on the outcome of the Oslo conference on cluster munitions; what the outcome was of those discussions; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett
I have not discussed cluster munitions with my US, Russian, Chinese or Israeli counterparts since the Oslo conference (22-23 February). The UK delegation to the conference on disarmament in Geneva has spoken to the aforementioned countries on the outcome of the Oslo conference and on addressing the issue of cluster munitions within the convention on certain conventional weapons. We continue to remain in close contact with these and other interested Governments on this important issue.

Mr. Caton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the outcome of the Oslo conference on cluster munitions held on 22 and 23 February.

Dr. Howells
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave the hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Mr. Michael Moore) today (UIN 124549).