§ Mr. Jacques Arnold
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy on the export of de-mining equipment to the former Yugoslavia. 
§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
On 26 February 1996, the European Union adopted a common position on arms exports to the former Yugoslavia which expressly excludes from the EU embargo "transfers of equipment needed for demining activities". The supply of de-mining equipment is vital to the task of detecting and destroying land mines laid during the war in former Yugoslavia.
The Government give sympathetic consideration to applications for the export of de-mining equipment for humanitarian purposes to former Yugoslavia on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the overall situation in the states of the former Yugoslavia and the paramount importance of ensuring the safety of British and other troops deployed in the region.