Ukraine: Depleted Uranium

Lord Bishop of Derby Excerpts

Thursday 30th March 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Harlech (Con)]

My Lords, I can say, hand on heart, that I am morally very comfortable that we are providing these armour-piercing rounds to Ukrainian forces so that they can push back Putin’s illegal invasion.

[The Lord Bishop of Derby]

Does the Minister agree that, whatever legitimate concerns people may have about the health and environmental impact of uranium-depleted shells, which I personally share, President Putin’s claim that he is looking to store tactical nuclear missiles in Belarus because the West is collectively beginning to use weapons with a nuclear component is utterly bogus, given that British forces have been using these armour-piercing shells legally for several decades, in accordance with Article 36 of the 1977 protocol additional to the Geneva conventions?

[Lord Harlech (Con)]

I completely agree with the right reverend Prelate.