§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been their response to the recent scandal affecting CMAC, the Cambodian government's demining organisation; and what is the present alternative channel of United Kingdom funding for such work. [HL4518]
§ Baroness AmosWe are concerned at the recent decision by the Cambodian Prime Minister to suspend a major part of the CMAC's operations from 13 November. We are monitoring the situation carefully through our Embassy in Phnom Penh along with other donors locally, including the United Nations Development Programme (through which we have previously provided funding for the CMAC). A Government-donor symposium on mines action in Cambodia will be held on 16 November, at which we will be represented. Any further funding we may provide through CMAC will depend on the outcome of that symposium, including future commitment by the Government of Cambodia and an effective dialogue with donors. In the meantime, we continue to provide funding for humanitarian mine action in Cambodia (approximately £2 million in 1999–2000) through non-governmental organisations.