§ The Lord Bishop of Guildfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their policy in respect of the main recommendation in the Landmine Action report Explosive Remnants of War, namely that the users of explosive munitions should be legally responsible for the clearance of unexploded ordnance or for providing financial assistance sufficient to ensure its clearance. [HL3817]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe Government are committed to addressing the problems caused by explosive remnants of war. In international discussions, we are ready to explore steps to facilitate and make more effective the clearance of unexploded ordnance. We support the development of 163WA a new protocol to the Convention on Conventional Weapons. But we are not convinced that a legal responsibility on the user is the best approach for a protocol. Legal responsibility is unlikely to be acceptable to countries unable to carry out or pay for post-conflict clearance. Moreover, it is not clear how such an obligation would apply when there are multiple parties to a conflict, or how the user would be identified in all cases. The practical and legal implications of this recommendation are thus wide-ranging and need to be considered fully.
§ The Lord Bishop of Guildfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will meet representatives of Landmine Action to discuss the issues raised in its recent report Explosive Remnants of War. [HL3818]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanWe will be inviting Landmine Action to a round-table meeting with officials from the relevant departments to discuss its report on a mutually convenient date. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development will be the keynote speaker at a Landmine Action and Co-operative Bank reception to promote the report in June.