House of Lords written question – answered at on 29 April 2002.
The Bishop of Guildford
Bishop
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the involvement of the Department for International Development in developing the United Kingdom's policy on explosive remnants of war.
Baroness Amos
Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)
The Department for International Development is working closely together with the FCO and MoD to help formulate the Government's approach on this issue, contributing in particular its experience with humanitarian mine action.
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