§ Mr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy concerning the export of land mines which possess a self-destruct mechanism.
§ Mr. FreemanThe United Kingdom has declared an indefinite moratorium on the export from the UK of all anti-personnel land mines which do not have self-destruct or self-neutralising mechanisms. We are also in the forefront of efforts to establish international measures to regulate the transfer of anti-personnel land mines. Any application for an export licence for a land mine which did possess a self-destruct mechanism would be assessed carefully in the light of these and other factors.
§ Mr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy concerning the export of components which can be used in the manufacture of land mines.
§ Mr. FreemanAny application for an export licence for specially designed land mine components would be subject to strict controls, and would be considered case by case in the light of the indefinite moratorium which the United Kingdom has declared on the export from the UK of anti-personnel land mines which do not have self-destruct or self-neutralising mechanisms, and other established criteria.