HC Deb 11 February 2000 vol 344 cc311-2W
Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assistance his Department is giving to the development of new technology for the clearance of anti-personnel land mines; [108592]

(2) 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; [108596]

(3) what research and development work has been funded by his Department since May 1997 into anti-personnel land mines clearance devices. [108593]

Dr. Howells

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence on 10 February 2000,Official Report, column 244W, and the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development on 8 February 2000, Official Report, column 91W.

Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet representatives from Edinburgh University to discuss the funding of the Dervish anti-personnel land mines clearance project. [108595]

Dr. Howells

I have no such plans. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development on 8 February 2000,Official Report, column 91W.

Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received concerning the Dervish anti-personnel land mines clearance project. [108594]

Dr. Howells

Any such representations received in this Department would be passed to the Ministry of Defence or the Department for International Development.