§ Lord McNairasked Her Majesty's Government:
What discussions they have had with the United States Government concerning the payment of compensation to the owner for the destruction of the Al Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum. [HL1805]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe issue of compensation is not a matter for Her Majesty's Government.
§ Lord McNairasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have shared with fellow members of the European Union information held by the Ministry of Defence regarding the Al Shifa pharmaceutical factory's alleged involvement with weapons of mass destruction and related technology; and [HL1808]
Further to the interview with the Secretary of State for Defence published by al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper on 23 October 1998, whether they have shared the Defence Secretary's information regarding the alleged involvement with weapons of mass destruction and related technology of the Al Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Sudan with (a) the United Nations Security Council, if so, when; and with what result; and (b) the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. [HL1840]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanIt is established practice under Section 1(c) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose or discuss information received in confidence from foreign governments.
§ Lord McNairasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will reconsider their support for the American bombing of the Al Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum in August 1998, in the light of (a) the chemical tests on factory site, supervised by Prof. Thomas Tullius, chairman of Boston University's department of chemistry, which showed no evidence of chemical weapons technology; and (b) the February 1999 report by Kroll Associates, which stated that the American Government's allegations about the Al Shifa factory's involvement in chemical weapons production were unsustainable. [HL1838]
116WA
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy right honourable friend the Prime Minister has made clear the Government's position on the bombing of Al Shifa on many occasions. He gave his support to the US action as action against international terrorists. The US told us at the time of the strike on Al Shifa that it had compelling evidence that the plant was being used for the production of chemical weapons material.
§ Lord McNairasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the interview with the Secretary of State for Defence published on 23 October 1998 by the Arabic-language newspaper al Sharq al-Awsat was an accurate account of their position with regard to the bombing of the Al Shifa factory; and whether they will place a translated copy of the article in the Library of the House. [HL1839]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy right honourable friend the Prime Minister has made clear the Government's position on the bombing of Al Shifa on many occasions. He gave his support to the US action as action against international terrorists. The US told us at the time of the strike on Al Shifa that it had compelling evidence that the plant was being used for the production of chemical weapons material.
A translation of the article the noble Lord refers to will be placed in the Library of the House.