HC Deb 03 May 1995 vol 259 c250W
Mr. Merchant

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the United Kingdom's policy on the export of land-mines.

Mr. David Davis

On 15 March I extended the scope of our indefinite moratorium on the export of anti-personnel land-mines. It now comprises a total ban on the export of non self-destructing or non-detectable anti-personnel land-mines; plus a ban on the export of all anti-personnel land-mines to countries which have not ratified the weaponry convention.

On 10 April the Foreign Affairs Council agreed a proposal for joint action on land-mines. The joint action includes an European Union-wide moratorium on the export of anti-personnel land-mines, identical in scope to our own moratorium; joint efforts to strengthen the UN weaponry convention; and support for demining.

Forward to