To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the 1997 proposals for demining to be administered by the European Community Humanitarian Office in Northern Iraq. [16979]

The European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) does not itself administer projects. It works in partnership with NGOs, UN and other international agencies that are themselves responsible for project administration.In 1997 the only ECHO funded partner for demining in Iraq was the British NGO Mines Advisory Group (MAG). MAG has a contract for £680,000 primarily to supply mine detectors and other equipment such as protection jackets, helmets etc. ECHO has also provided £1.5 million for medical support for land mine victims. Britain contributes about a seventh of the cost of the ECHO programme.