11.06.2007
Caton, Martin

That this House welcomes the Government's acknowledgement that the failure rate of submunitions used in cluster bombs can leave a dangerous legacy for civilians; recognises the Government's intention to phase out cluster munitions which do not have a target discrimination capability or are without a self-destruct, self-neutralisation or self-deactivation capability; is deeply concerned, however, that the Government defines M85 submunitions manufactured by Israeli Military Industries as a smart weapon and intends to retain them in the UK armoury; notes the evidence of Human Rights Watch of unexploded M85 submunitions in Basra, Iraq, after being used by UK forces in 2003 and of the UN in Southern Lebanon of large numbers of these bomblets found undestroyed following their use by Israel in the recent conflict there; and therefore urges the Government to cease holding or using these indiscriminate weapons.