§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel are involved in land mine destruction; and in which countries such personnel are working. [54632]
§ Mr. IngramBritish Service personnel provide technical expertise, management and specialist skills to support mine action programmes worldwide. As at 1 May 2002, personnel were deployed as follows
Senior Technical Adviser to the UN Mine Action Centre in Bosnia.Staff Officer within the Humanitarian Demining Training Centre at the US Army's Engineer School.Head of Technical Unit at the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.In Bosnia, as part of the Stabilisation Force (SFOR), UK military personnel are involved in the co-ordination and monitoring of mine clearance; emergency disposal of mines and unexploded ordnance as required; and mine awareness training. We also maintain an Explosive Ordnance Disposal detachment in the Falkland Islands. Additionally, UK personnel have provided technical information to the United Nations and to non-governmental organisations on mines that could be found in Afghanistan.