§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the benefits of a pre-legislative hearing by the Defence Committee on the legislation required to meet commitments under the Anti-Personnel Land Mines Ottawa Convention. [48308]
§ Mr. George RobertsonI have been asked to reply.
As the hon. Member will be aware, the Bill to ratify the Ottawa Convention was passed by the House on 10 July. There was therefore no time for a pre-legislative hearing. However, we sent a memorandum to the Committee which answered a number of questions that they submitted to the MOD. Publication is a matter for the Committee.