DRAFT TREATY ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS

Early day motion 1564, tabled 14 May 2008 by Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party). Signed by 52 members.

That this House notes that the final negotiations on a new treaty banning the production, transfer, stockpiling and use of cluster munitions are due to take place in Dublin on 19th to 30th May 2008; welcomes the draft treaty text which provides for a categorical prohibition on cluster munitions with no exemptions; further welcomes the draft treaty's extensive provisions on victim assistance and obligations on clearance of unexploded submunitions; is concerned that, having led the way by taking two types of cluster munitions out of service, the Government is now trying to seek exemptions from the proposed ban for the cluster munitions it currently stockpiles; encourages the Government to accept the draft treaty definition of victims; urges the Government to drop its opposition to legal obligations on past users in respect of clearance; calls on the Government to cease its attempts to include a transition period in the treaty which would only delay its effect; is further concerned that the Government's objections on interoperability are aimed at allowing the United States to store such weapons in the UK; and calls on all governments participating in the Dublin negotiations to meet their commitments in the Oslo and Wellington Declarations by producing the most significant disarmament treaty for a decade.

Signatures by party: Labour 27, Liberal Democrat 9, Scottish National Party 7, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Conservative 2, Independent 2, Plaid Cymru 1, UKIP 1.