If one thinks of the many square miles that are littered with these mines, it will obviously take a very long while to carry out the clearance. Automatic mine clearance is fine in certain countries that have power and have the facilities to use very expensive equipment. But most clearance is carried out locally by small groups who are specially trained to detect very carefully. My Lords, I am sure they are. They have been so skilful in every other task they have ever been asked to undertake that I have no doubt that they are skilful in mine clearance too.
Most British soldiers know how to do it.
My Lords, yes. The Government firmly believe that the travelling public and indeed the taxpayer have benefited substantially from the privatisation and deregulation of the bus industry. They have brought greater operating efficiency, introduced the benefits of competition and innovation in meeting passenger needs and given a reduction in the burden on the taxpayer of subsidising the industry. My Lords, I thank the Minister for that extraordinary reply. My Lords, I do not believe that that is a fair summary of what the report says.