Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, how much the Department (a) has spent in the last ten years and (b) plans to spend in each of the next three years on de-mining efforts in (i) the Republic of Cyprus, (ii) the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, (iii) the UN-administered buffer zone and (iv) in and around the sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia.

The UK is unequivocal in its support for a mine-free Cyprus. The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) works to create options for the sides to progress with the next phase of clearing hazardous areas across the island. Last year we contributed over £1.3 million to UNFICYP and we are consistently a leading contributor of personnel. In January, as penholder we drafted UNSCR 2723 which urged both leaders to overcome existing barriers and expedite demining progress in Cyprus.