HC Deb 10 February 2000 vol 344 cc243-4W
Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effectiveness of methods currently in use for anti-personnel land mines clearance. [108633]

Dr. Moonie

My Department has not conducted any recent research specifically on the effectiveness of methods currently in use for anti-personnel land mine clearance. However, we have carried out limited trials on commercially produced hand held metal detectors.

Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received concerning the Dervish anti-personnel land mines clearance project. [108632]

Dr. Moonie

Since 1997, my Department has received a number of representations concerning the Dervish anti-personnel land mines clearance project and the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) has been in correspondence with the head of the project team. The Dervish device is intended for area clearance of anti-personnel mines and while it may have a role in humanitarian mine clearance, the system does not currently meet the requirements of the Armed Services.