Anti-personnel Mines

HC Deb 19 December 1997 vol 303 cc383-4W

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future anti-personnel scatterable mine project. [21570]

Mr. Spellar

On 3 December, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development signed the Ottawa Convention which will ban the use, stockpiling, import, export, transfer and manufacture of anti-personnel mines. Accordingly, the United Kingdom will not procure any new anti-personnel mines; we will therefore not proceed with the Future Anti-Personnel Scatterable Mine project.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there has been any modification of the contract to supply 29 volcano vehicle launched scatterable mine systems and associated equipment and munitions, due to enter service in 1999; and if he will make a statement. [21571]

Mr. Spellar

I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.