That this House notes that the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) binds signatories not to transfer to any nation any agents, toxins, weapons and equipment of biological and toxin warfare and provides that any nation finding another signatory in breach of this undertaking may lodge a complaint to the Security Council; understands that the Riegle Report to the US Senate has published evidence that the US sold biological materials including Bacillus Anthracis, Clostridium Botulinum, Histoplasma capsulatum, Brucella, Melitensis and Clostridium Perfringens to various agencies of the Iraqi Government pursuant to export licenses issued by the US Department of Commerce, in quantities set out in the Report and at the time when the US was fully aware of the Iraqi biological warfare programme and that these exports have been fully documented and are also set out in the 23rd September 2002 edition of Newsweek and by Senator Robert Byrd in speeches in the Senate on 20th and 26th September 2002; requests the Government to exercise its power to report these sales to the Security Council of the United Nations in the light of its commitment in the April 2002 Green Paper, Strengthening Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention that, those at every level responsible for any breach of international law relating to the use of such weapons will be held personally accountable because compliance with the BTWC is an issue the international community cannot avoid; and urges the Prime Minister either to lodge the necessary complaint with the Security Council of the UN or change his stated policy after an appropriate public announcement and discussion.

That this House notes that the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) binds signatories not to transfer to any nation any agents, toxins, weapons and equipment of biological and toxin warfare and provides that any nation finding another signatory in breach of this undertaking may lodge a complaint to the...

That this House notes that the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention binds signatories not to transfer to any nation any agents, toxins, weapons and equipment of biological and toxin warfare and provides that any nation finding another signatory in breach of this undertaking may lodge a complaint to the Security Council; further understands that the Riegle Report to the US Senate has published evidence that the US sold biological materials including Bacillus Anthracis, Clostridium Botulinum, Histoplasma capsulatum, Brucella, Melitensis, and Clostridium Perfringens to various agencies of the Iraqi Government pursuant to export licences issued by the US Department of Commerce, in quantities set out in the Report and at the time when the US was fully aware of the Iraqi biological warfare programme and that these exports have been fully documented and are also set out in the 23 September 2002 edition of Newsweek and by Senator Robert Byrd in speeches in the Senate on 20th and 26th September 2002; requests the Government to exercise its power to report these sales to the Security Council of the United Nations in the light of its commitment in the April 2002 Green Paper, Strengthening Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention that, those at every level responsible for any breach of international law relating to the use of such weapons will be held personally accountable because compliance with the BTWC is an issue the international community cannot avoid; and urges the Prime Minister either to lodge the necessary complaint with the Security Council of the UN or change its stated policy after an appropriate public announcement and discussion.

That this House notes that the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention binds signatories not to transfer to any nation any agents, toxins, weapons and equipment of biological and toxin warfare and provides that any nation finding another signatory in breach of this undertaking may lodge a complaint to the Security...

That this House notes the latest editorial of Liberation magazine, drawing on information from the Institute of Energy and Environmental Research, which states that the United States has produced dried and weapon size anthrax spores in far greater amounts than for the stated purpose of testing the United States's bio-defences, that according to respected British and American scientists the United States is attempting to develop biological cluster bombs and are researching the possibility of genetically engineering a new strain of antibiotic-resistant anthrax, and that this undermines and possibly violates the Biological Weapons Convention; and considers that the UK Government, along with the European Union should make strong representations to the United States and table an appropriate United Nations resolution, calling for a halt in this weapons of mass destruction programme.

That this House notes the latest editorial of Liberation magazine, drawing on information from the Institute of Energy and Environmental Research, which states that the United States has produced dried and weapon size anthrax spores in far greater amounts than for the stated purpose of testing the United States's bio-defences,...

That this House notes the United States of America signed the Chemical Weapons Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on 13th January 1993; observes with concern that since that time, the United States Government has prohibited access by verification inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to several chemical industry sites in the US on the grounds of protecting 'business proprietary information of US companies,' according to the Under Secretary at the US Bureau of Industry and Security in statement on 10th October 2002; notes with disapproval that US escorts have also refused to allow inspectors to use approved inspection equipment (e.g., weighing equipment) during inspections of some military facilities used for chemical weapon manufacture or storage in the past; believes that the United States has imposed limits on inspections of its facilities that are contrary to the requirements of the treaty, including reserving the right for the President to block inspections and limiting what facilities may be inspected; records with disapproval that this stance has led to a less thorough inspection regime; observes the US has acted in a similar disruptive way in respect of the Biological Weapons Convention, putting the interests of the secrecy of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies before global security and anti-terrorist measures; points out that if Iraq were to be similarly unco-operative it would incur the deadly wrath of the US Administration; and thus calls upon Her Majesty's Government to put all possible pressure on the United States Administration to enforce American compliance with these treaties.

That this House notes the United States of America signed the Chemical Weapons Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on 13th January 1993; observes with concern that since that time, the United States Government has prohibited access by verification inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons...

That this House condemns the brutal repressive regime of Saddam Hussein but regrets the Government's failure to provide convincing evidence that he is planning to use weapons of mass destruction; believes that the only likely use of such weapons would be if Saddam Hussein is facing defeat in war when he may, in a final act of desperation, use them against British soldiers; recalls that the most effective way to defeat terrorism is to win over the hearts and minds of terrorist supporters; fears that an attack on Iraq before there is a just settlement in Palestine will be judged by many Muslims as a punitive assault on Islam which will increase the likelihood of a terrorist attack on the UK; and believes that the present crisis is the result of the election of President Bush whose supporters in the Project for a New American Century have long planned to re-order the world in the interests of the United States.

That this House condemns the brutal repressive regime of Saddam Hussein but regrets the Government's failure to provide convincing evidence that he is planning to use weapons of mass destruction; believes that the only likely use of such weapons would be if Saddam Hussein is facing defeat in war when...

That this House welcomes the Prime Minister's statement on BBC Newsnight on 16th May 2002 that he believes weapons of mass destruction to be a real evil; notes the 1996 statement by 60 retired generals and admirals from many countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons; further notes that the United Nations General Assembly's call in 1996 and 1997 for immediate negotiations leading to the conclusion of a nuclear weapons convention and the 1997 European Parliament's call for support for negotiations leading to a nuclear weapons abolition convention; and calls upon the Prime Minister to work within the Security Council for such a convention and to make a statement to the House on how a United States National Missile Defence programme would impact on efforts to reduce weapons of mass destruction.

That this House welcomes the Prime Minister's statement on BBC Newsnight on 16th May 2002 that he believes weapons of mass destruction to be a real evil; notes the 1996 statement by 60 retired generals and admirals from many countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, calling for...

That this House welcomes the Prime Minister's statement on BBC Newsnight 16th May that he believes weapons of mass destruction to be a 'real evil'; notes that the 1996 statement by 60 retired generals and admirals from any countries, including the UK and US, calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons; further notes that the UN General Assembly's call in 1996 and 1997 for immediate negotiations leading to the conclusion of a nuclear weapons convention and the 1997 European Parliament's call for support for negotiations leading to a nuclear weapons abolition convention; and calls upon the Prime Minister to work within the Security Council for such a convention and to make a statement to the House on how a US National Missile Defence programme would impact on efforts to reduce weapons of mass destruction.

That this House welcomes the Prime Minister's statement on BBC Newsnight 16th May that he believes weapons of mass destruction to be a 'real evil'; notes that the 1996 statement by 60 retired generals and admirals from any countries, including the UK and US, calling for the elimination of nuclear...

That this House notes the considerable achievements of the Ad Hoc Group in working towards the negotiation of an efficient and effective Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention; commends successive British Governments for their significant role since 1995 in furthering a successful outcome to those negotiations; notes the importance of reaching agreement of the Protocol on the basis of the Chairman's text prior to the next Review Conference of the BTWC in November this year; and urges the Government to impress upon all states party to the BTWC the importance of achieving this objective.

That this House notes the considerable achievements of the Ad Hoc Group in working towards the negotiation of an efficient and effective Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention; commends successive British Governments for their significant role since 1995 in furthering a successful outcome to those negotiations; notes the...