§ Mr. CatonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures Her Majesty's Government are taking to assist with(a) landmine clearance, (b) landmine stockpile destruction and (c) recovery and rehabilitation of survivors of landmine injuries. [32181]
§ Clare ShortLast October, I announced the doubling, over the next three years, of UK annual commitments to demining activities from £5 million to £10 million. These funds will be used to support the detection and clearance of anti-personnel landmines and are available to help developing countries implement their obligations under the Ottawa Convention which may include stockpile destruction.
We contribute to international assistance to landmine survivors through our support to organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Health Organisation. In addition, in November 593W 1997, the European Community committed some £5.9 million to the ICRC's 1997 and 1998 Special Appeals for Assistance to Mine Victims; the UK share of this assistance is about £860,000.