Written question asked by Tom Cox (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 May 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 May 2002. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Monday, 13 May 2002 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To 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.

Answer: Mr. Cox: To 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. Ingram: British 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: Staff 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.

Secondary information