Written question asked by John Lyons (Labour) on Thursday, 8 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 July 2004. It was answered by Hilary Benn (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 July 2004 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment his Department has made of progress with the removal of land mines in Angola. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of progress with the removal of land mines in Angola. [183689] Hilary Benn: DFID's Explosive Ordnance and Demining Adviser, together with the DFID Mines Programme Officer, will be visiting Angola 21--31 July to carry out an assessment of mines and unexploded ordnance in Angola and to identify possible areas for future support. The mission will build upon the assessments conducted by UNDP and the Angolan National Inter-sectoral Commission for Demining and Humanitarian Assistance (CNIDAH). We are currently providing assistance totalling £331,325 to the HALO Trust for road clearance in Cuando Cubango Province and £100,000 to Mines Advisory Group (MAG) for the same activity in Moxico Province. Additionally, we have provided support to the United Nations Development Programme project to strengthen the National Mine Co-ordination Office in Angola (US$ 300,000 in 2003-2004.) We are also giving urgent consideration to requests to assist in specific road de-mining activities near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to aid the return of refugees.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 423 c1161W; 183689
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Bomb disposal International assistance Humanitarian aid Landmines Angola
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk