Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 30 November (HL3469), whether, in their recent dialogue with the government of Saudi Arabia, that government has offered to destroy Royal Saudi Air Force stocks of UK-made BL-755 weaponry; and if so, when that offer was made.

Saudi Arabia has made a commitment that it will no longer use BL-755 cluster munitions. It would be inappropriate to comment on the detail of private discussions between Governments. But the UK continues to encourage Saudi Arabia, as well as other non-parties, to accede to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.