§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the President of the I3oard of Trade (1) what is his policy regarding possible future1020W exports of casings or components for anti-personnel mines with self-destruct or self-neutralising mechanisms;
(2) what is his policy regarding possible future exports of anti-personnel mines with self-destruct or self-neutralising mechanisms.
§ Mr. Ian TaylorWe have not produced or exported any anti-personnel mines for some years. Nevertheless, any applications to export these forms of mines or their components would be subject to rigorous scrutiny on a case by case basis, with due regard to proposed end users and their adherence to protocol II of the 1981 United Nations weaponry convention.
§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what failure rate is allowed in the definition of a self-destruct or self-neutralising mechanism on an anti-personnel mine employed by Her Majesty's Government for export purposes.
§ Mr. Ian TaylorApplications for licences for the export of anti-personnel mines have not been received for some years and the United Kingdom does not currently produce or export such mines. Failure rate would not, however, be a factor taken into account in considering applications for licences to export such mines. We are working positively towards incorporating achievable criteria into the revised 1981 United Nations weaponry convention which governs the use of such weapons.
§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the definition of anti-personal mine employed by Her Majesty's Government for export purposes.
§ Mr. Ian TaylorExports of anti-personnel mines are controlled under munitions list 4 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 and our own recently announced export moratorium. Although currently no formal definition on anti-personnel mine is used, companies making applications for licences to export any weapons are required to state the purpose for which those weapons are to be used.
§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what research he has carried out into the impact of production and export of anti-personnel mines with self-destruct or self-neutralising mechanisms by the United Kingdom on the production and export of anti-personnel mines of all types by developing countries; and what were his conclusions.
§ Mr. Ian TaylorNo such research has been undertaken by my Department.
§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade to which countries the United Kingdom has exported casings or components for anti-personnel mines since 1982.
§ Mr. Ian TaylorDetails of any export licences approved for this equipment could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.