Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Humanity International's call for the development of an international political declaration to end the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas and to ensure support for the victims of these weapons.

The UK is at the forefront of international discussions on the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas. Officials contributed extensively to the Vienna Conference on Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare in October 2019, in which steps towards a political declaration were taken. The next round of negotiations will take place in Geneva in February 2020 and we will take an active role in those discussions in order to ensure humanitarian concerns are balanced against operational realities. In the UK's experience, support and assistance to victims of conflict is best provided through integrated social and economic development programmes in affected countries.