HL Deb 11 January 1999 vol 596 c2WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In relation to the Ottawa Convention on Anti-personnel Landmines, whether they will:

  1. (a) urge major states who have not yet ratified the convention to do so;
  2. (b) pledge funds towards the cost of the system of annual reporting;
  3. (c) facilitate research into techniques of mine clearance, including microwave methods. [HL339]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

We shall continue to urge all states who have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Ottawa Convention as soon as possible.

The costs of our reporting requirements under the convention will not be significant and will be met from within existing resources. We are also considering how we can help other states meet their commitments under the Ottawa Convention, and funds are available for this purpose.

We are already funding research into mine clearance technology, including the application of microwave technology.