Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance he has issued to Government departments on the impact of advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice on policy decisions.

There is no general guidance issued to Government departments on the impact of advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice on policy decisions.

Advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice are not legally binding. The Government considers advisory opinions on a case-by-case basis and takes them into account where relevant to the formulation of policy.