§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on the clearance of minefields in the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [28222]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Government are committed to meeting their obligations under the Ottawa Convention. They are currently considering how best to achieve this with regard to the mined areas on the Falkland Islands. Comprehensive clearance work on the minefields was stopped soon after the conflict following a number of serious incidents involving clearance personnel. While all but one British laid mines have been cleared a large number of Argentine laid mines remain. Currently the areas in which mines remain are marked and fenced off, to ensure that they are not a threat to the people living on the Islands.