§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department makes available to African countries which are not in conflict for mine clearance. [137944]
§ Clare ShortWe continue to provide assistance for mine clearance to a number of African countries from our humanitarian mine action programme, which totalled some £15 million in 1999–2000. Currently, this includes Chad, Mozambique and Guinea Bissau. This assistance is channelled through the UN (including the United Nations Mine Action Service, the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Office for Project Services) and other international organisations, national Mine Action Centres and NGOs, and includes strengthening indigenous capacity where possible. We also provide support to help countries ratify the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction.