§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many(a) casualties and (b) injuries in Kosovo were directly attributable to (i) mines, (ii) de-mining activities and (iii) cluster bomb submunition in each year since 1999; and if he will make a statement. [131794]
§ Mr. MacShaneI have been asked to reply.
The Government do not keep detailed records of this type of information. The figures in the following table have been provided by the UN Mine Action Co-ordination Centre (UNMACC) in Kosovo.
The UK was the first country to have de-miners on the ground in Kosovo. Their de-mining activities have included clearance of unexploded munitions such as cluster bomb submunitions. The Government have spent over £10 million on de-mining activities in the Balkans, over £5 million of which was spent in 1999–2000 on de-mining in Kosovo.
Mr. Gareth ThomasOfficials will visit St. Helena for this purpose early next year. The previous three-year aid package, which provided St. Helena with some £29 million, expired last March. This is being supplemented in the current (2003–04) Financial Year with further provision of over £10.5 million.
§ Mr. Anthony SteenTo ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, if he will make a statement on the progress with building the airport in St. Helena. [137228]
Mr. Gareth ThomasEvaluation is continuing of the four expressions of interest, in response to the international invitation issued in April of this year, concerning possible private sector participation and potential investment in developing air access for St. Helena. I refer the hon. Gentleman to my written statement to this House on 16 September 2003,Official Report, column 43WS.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to make an 61W official visit to St. Helena in 2004; and when a Minister from his Department last made a visit. [136974]
Mr. Gareth ThomasI have no plans at present to visit St. Helena, and St. Helena has never had a visit by a DFID Minister. But DFID staff visit regularly; and official visitors from the island are always welcome at DFID. For example, in addition to several calls this year by officials from St. Helena, I have held two meetings since June with representatives of St. Helena's Executive and Legislative Councils. I am expecting to host another such meeting next month, when our colleagues from the Overseas Territories gather in London for the annual Overseas Territories Consultative Council.