Oral Answers to Questions

Robert Largan Excerpts

Monday 21st February 2022 Commons Chamber

[Jane Hunt (Loughborough) (Con)]

1. What steps his Department is taking to help protect the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

[Robert Largan (High Peak) (Con)]

2. What steps his Department is taking to help protect the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

[David Johnston (Wantage) (Con)]

8. What steps his Department is taking to help protect the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

--- Later in debate ---

[Robert Largan]

I am grateful to the Secretary of State for his answer a few moments ago, and for his leadership in ensuring that both deterrence and diplomacy are used to stand up for the sovereignty of the people of Ukraine. Given the reports of thousands of civilians being taken from their homes and taken to Russia as part of forced evacuations—a clear breach of article 49 of the Geneva convention—can I ask the Secretary of State what discussions he and colleagues across Government have had about any future role for courts, including the International Criminal Court? It is vital that perpetrators know that they will be held to account for their actions in future.

[Mr Wallace]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. The ICC obviously only has effect on the many members who are signed up to the treaties, and not every state is; the United Kingdom is, however. I think, fundamentally, this is about international law, and whether Russia respects international law and the previous commitments it has made to respect the sovereignty of Ukraine. If it fails to respect that international law, the international community will see it for what it is.