Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Friday, 8 October 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 25 October 1999. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Monday, 25 October 1999 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what target date his Department has set to destroy all the anti-personnel mines it currently holds.

Answer: Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what target date his Department has set to destroy all the anti-personnel mines it currently holds. [94664] Mr. Spellar: I am pleased to announce that the last operational UK anti-personnel mines--the HB 876 sub-munition to the RAF's JP 233 weapon system--were destroyed on 19 October. We have completed the UK's destruction programme over three years ahead of the timeframe laid down in the Ottawa Convention. The destruction programme was accelerated to demonstrate to the world the UK's clear and unequivocal commitment to the Ottawa Convention. As provided for in Article 3 of the Ottawa Convention, the UK will continue to hold the minimum necessary numbers of anti-personnel mines for the development of and training in mine detection, mine clearance, or mine destruction techniques.

Secondary information