§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department last deployed anti-personnel land mines for operational use. [23260]
§ Mr. SoamesI refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 22 November 1995,Official Report, column 174.
§ Dr. ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many anti-personnel land mines British forces have deactivated to date as part of their United Nation implementation force duties in Bosnia. [23261]
§ Mr. SoamesUnder the terms of the Dayton agreement, the clearance of mines is the responsibility of the parties. IFOR's role is limited to monitoring their work, except where there is a serious threat to life or clearance is essential to IFOR's own operations. In accordance with this, British forces have deactivated some 160 anti-personnel mines.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the impact of anti-personnel land mines on the duties carried out by British forces in the United Nations implementation force in Bosnia; and what conclusions his Department has drawn from the prevalence of anti-personnel mines in Bosnia. [23263]
§ Mr. SoamesLand mines continue to pose a hazard to IFOR forces in Bosnia, but steps have been taken to reduce the risks. All UK service personnel who deploy to Bosnia undergo mine awareness training and our contribution to IFOR includes personnel who are specially 693W trained in explosive ordnance disposal. The damage caused by the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel mines in Bosnia reinforces our determination to press for tighter international controls on the use and export of these weapons.