§ 15. Mr. Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock)What assessment he has made of the impact of the activities of private military companies operating wholly or in part from the United Kingdom on the implementation of UK foreign policy objectives. [61394]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Tony Lloyd)Our concerns relate principally to private military companies which are involved in the supply of military equipment or other controlled goods and services in breach of the UK's national commitments, or which supply, or offer to supply, mercenaries or related military services. The activities of such companies could have—and, in some cases, clearly would have—an adverse impact on the implementation of the Government's foreign policy objectives.
§ Mr. MackinlayIs not one of the lessons of the Sandline affair that such private mercenary companies can cause acute embarrassment to the UK? Many people in this country find it repugnant that private military firmsmercenaries—can operate in the UK. Will my hon. Friend consider advancing within the United Nations a convention to control and monitor such outfits? Will he also consider bringing legislation before the House of Commons so that we can monitor, control and police those outfits? As we license the sale of arms, why do we not license and control those people who organise armies? It is time that we addressed ourselves to legislating to control them.
§ Mr. LloydThere is no doubt that the Government deplore the action of mercenaries. In a few weeks, I shall meet the United Nations special rapporteur on mercenaries, Mr. Ballesteros, whose mandate is to examine the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of people's right to self-determination. That is the usual way in which mercenaries operate.
I must say to my hon. Friend that we have a problem. He referred obliquely to the UN convention on mercenaries, which we think is unworkable for legal reasons. The definition of mercenaries is not one that would get through a British court, and cases would simply fail. We are presently examining with other Departments the experience in South Africa, and in other countries that have looked at the legislative route, to find out what lessons that holds for Britain and whether it would offer a way forward to control those unacceptable activities.