Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the state use of white phosphorus in conflict situations so as to cause humanitarian suffering constitutes an illegal chemical weapons attack requiring international action.

The use of white phosphorus is not banned under international law, including the Chemical Weapons Convention. As with any other weapon, the use of white phosphorus during an armed conflict must comply with international humanitarian law. The UK condemns the use of white phosphorus in breach of international humanitarian law.