§ Norman LambTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's spending on mine clearance by the United Nations. [135850]
§ Hilary BennDFID's current policy of channelling a high proportion of its funds for Humanitarian Demining via United Nations Agencies is currently being reviewed. This will be the first formal review of the policy. The UN agencies have a mixed record of success in their various roles; in particular the role of global coordination and the management of field operations could be improved. However there have also been some significant successes (Kosovo and Sudan are two examples).