House of Commons · Westminster Hall
20 April 2023 · 6 other contributors · 10,779 words
Opened by Wendy Morton Con Aldridge-Brownhills
Responding minister: Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Wendy Morton raised concerns about landmine awareness in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Ms Morton asked the Minister to provide an update on funding levels for GMAP (Global Mine Action Programme), which has a budget of £89 million from March 2022 until March 2025. She also requested information on how much has been spent and allocated, whether this funding will be sufficient considering current challenges, and what the Government can do to encourage more states to ratify the Mine Ban Treaty.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Ms Morton highlighted the ongoing risks landmines pose to civilians, livestock and the environment long after conflicts end. She noted that approximately 60 million people are at risk from landmines and unexploded ordnance in post-conflict areas. Ms Morton also pointed out that on average, 15 people are killed or injured each day by these hazards, with half of them being children. She stressed the need for education about the dangers of landmines to prevent accidents.
Mr Hamilton praised the right hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills and her commitment to de-mining activities, highlighting the UK's role in supporting countries affected by landmines through programmes such as MAP via the FCDO. He expressed concern over a 7% decrease in global funding for de-mining from $590 million to $550 million in 2021 and urged the Government to restore the £89 million cut to UK's mine action programme last year. Hamilton also addressed the situation in Ukraine, estimating that it could take up to 30 years to clear mines post-conflict, and called for faster ratification of Protocol V of the convention on certain conventional weapons.
The MP expressed his personal experience with landmines and their impact, particularly mentioning the death of four Army soldiers from a landmine explosion in Northern Ireland. He highlighted the importance of mine clearance and the need for a deliberate and cautious approach, referencing examples like the Falkland Islands where it took 40 years to clear mines. Shannon also emphasised the devastating effects on civilians, especially children, and called for more funding despite the UK's generous aid history.
Thanked the right hon. Member for bringing this issue to the Chamber, sharing her experience of visiting the War Childhood Museum in Sarajevo where she learned about 180,000 unexploded mines remaining from the war. Emphasises the impact on children and future generations.
Congratulates the right hon. Member for securing the debate and highlights the importance of organisations such as HALO Trust in saving lives, questioning whether the Government ensure they are adequately funded. Also raises concerns about landmines being used in recent conflicts like Ukraine and calls for stronger deterrence against their use. What is probably most awful about landmines is that they are indiscriminate: they cannot tell the difference between an innocent civilian and the enemy, and they remain long after conflicts end. Does the hon. Member share my concern about the significant reduction in UK Government aid for removal programmes, and agree that Ministers must reinstate the £53 million lost this year?
Ms Smith emphasized the importance of funding for landmine clearance and recognized the significant work done by NGOs such as HALO Trust. She highlighted that education is crucial to prevent accidents caused by unexploded ordnance.
Mr Thompson highlighted the lasting legacy of landmines, which kill or maim up to 2,000 people monthly. He emphasised that it would take over 1,000 years to clear all active mines if no new ones were laid and called for universalisation of the mine ban treaty. He criticised funding cuts by £53 million in the past year for mine clearance programmes, urging the Government to reinstate aid budgeting at pre-COVID levels.
Government Response
Anne-Marie TrevelyanThe UK is committed to ridding the world of landmines and has been a leader in this effort, having signed the anti-personnel mine ban convention and the convention on cluster munitions. The country currently supports mine action projects across the globe through its Global Mine Action Programme (GMAP), which from 2018-2022 invested £146 million in clearing nearly 500 million square meters of land, teaching over 4 million people about safety measures and assisting countries to develop strategies for mine action. Despite budget constraints due to the pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine, the UK launched GMAP3 last year with a focus on immediate responses, such as £2 million for tackling new contamination in Ukraine. A new budget of £12.3 million has been confirmed for delivering de-mining, risk education, and national capacity building globally alongside additional funding for Afghanistan. The Minister also highlighted innovative projects like using specially trained detection rats to clear mines in Cambodia.