§ 10. Mr. Nigel Griffiths (Edinburgh, South)What progress he has made in discussions with his international counterparts to secure the elimination of land mine production. [74916]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Tony Lloyd)We continue to press for as many countries as possible to join the 134 that have already signed up to the total ban on anti-personnel mines that is enshrined in the Ottawa convention, which entered into force on 1 March.
§ Mr. GriffithsWe welcome the leading role that the Government have played in ratifying the Ottawa convention. Will my hon. Friend do more to ensure that the mines are cleared when, every day, women, children and other civilians fall victim to those awful devices? Is he aware of the work being done by Professor Stephen Salter of Edinburgh university and others throughout Britain on innovative devices to clear the minefields?
§ Mr. LloydMy hon. Friend is right to say that the victims of these mines are not simply combatants in 879 conflict situations but often, long after conflict has finished, innocent people who had no role in that conflict—women, children and, indeed, men—who lose their lives or their capacity to look after themselves and their families. That is what led the Government to be so actively involved in the process that led to the Ottawa convention. That is what led Britain to be one of the first to get rid of its stock of anti-personnel and land mines. The Army had got rid of its stocks before the Ottawa convention came into force on 1 March this year—a significant achievement.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and Britain is doubling the amount of money that we shall make available for mine clearance in the year 2000, to about £10 million. That will have a significant impact, and we shall continue to lobby among friends and allies, and globally, that all countries should a play a part in de-mining.