Iraq

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:30 pm on 26 January 1998.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Tim Collins Mr Tim Collins Conservative, Westmorland and Lonsdale 3:30, 26 January 1998

Given what the Minister has said, does he accept that there will be a widespread welcome for his proposition that the option of military force cannot be ruled out because it is imperative that Saddam Hussein should be denied access to weapons of mass destruction? Accordingly, may I ask him to reflect further on his reply to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard), the shadow Foreign Secretary, on the importance of the British aircraft carrier fleet? Once this incident is over, will he make representations to the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury on the usefulness of that aircraft carrier capability for our foreign policy?