§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Ministers or 845W officials have had with the Government of Argentina about clearance of mines in the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [28223]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe matter was last discussed by Ministers at a meeting between my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and Dr. di Tella in November 1997, and by officials at a routine meeting earlier this week. The question of mine clearance in the Falkland Islands is complicated because of technical, practical and environmental reasons (largely due to the soil conditions in which these mines were laid).