HC Deb 15 December 1997 vol 303 cc25-6W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid has been given to Egypt in each year since 1967 to assist in the clearance of land mines laid in World War II. [20634]

Clare Short

Mine detection equipment to the value of £500,000 was provided from the overseas aid budget in 1996. A further £100,000 for such equipment has been committed in Financial year 1997–98.

In addition, the Ministry of Defence has, from the early 1980s, provided the Egyptian authorities with copies of all surviving maps of known minefields and supporting information on the types of mines laid and the techniques used by the Commonwealth forces during the war. There have been three visits to Egypt by Royal Engineer Ordnance Disposal officers (in 1981, 1984 and 1994); reconnaissance flights over the area were also conducted by the RAF in 1984. The Ministry of Defence is currently preparing a new version of the map and data package which makes use of advances in technology where possible.