David Norris (Independent)

I thank the Minister of State. I am glad and unsurprised that we are in sympathy about the horrors of war and its associated revolting machinery. I will not labour the point, but I imagine that Belgium and Austria will be accommodated. The Minister of State's diplomatic advisers might be able to say "Yes" or "No". I will watch this space because I would hazard a small bet that Belgium and Austria will be in the lists, however it will be done. This is a side matter.

Regarding the question of principle, I see no difficulty in an individual country exceeding the parameters of an international convention. The difficulty lies in not meeting them. There is no difficulty of principle or law in a domestic jurisdiction having a higher standard.

I will not force the matter of interoperability, since it will be considered in the next series of amendments. Like the majority of those who lobbied in this regard, I have strong feelings about the issue. For the most part, governments were not lobbying. We were unusual in that we put the full force of our diplomatic strength behind the treaty and Ministers were committed to it, which I salute. In many instances, NGOs and people inspired by the anti-landmine campaign of Diana, the late Princess of Wales, were against the idea of interoperability. While I will address the point in the following amendments, they believed that we should not co-operate with and abet people who continue to use the weapons that we are trying to outlaw. I welcome the Bill, but it is only a partial cluster bomb ban.

I accept the Minister of State's good intentions and his practical view of the situation. Unless provoked, I do not propose to spend much time on this amendment. I would prefer to move ahead with my colleagues and the Minister of State.