§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what areas the British Government are(a) contributing to and (b) participating in, the creation of a centre for mine action technologies at the Defence Research Establishment in Suffield, Canada; and if he will make a statement. [55468]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 19 October 1998]: The recently opened Centre for Mine Action Technologies at the Defence Research Establishment in Suffield, Canada, is a national initiative in which the British Government have not been involved. The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) conducts research into counter mine warfare on behalf of the British Government, and makes publicly available any results relevant to humanitarian de-mining. The Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development are also actively involved in the international exchange of information and co-operation on mine clearance technologies and will continue to contribute to international work on humanitarian mine clearance.