§ 8. Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)What recent meetings he has had with other Commonwealth countries regarding Sierra Leone. [48708]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Tony Lloyd)I discussed Sierra Leone at the most recent meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on 2 and 3 March. I then took part in a CMAG mission to Sierra Leone on 31 March with colleagues from Zimbabwe, Ghana, Canada and Malaysia.
§ Mr. SkinnerWhen my hon. Friend next meets Commonwealth Ministers, will he tell them that a debate that was staged last week on Sierra Leone—one of those great parliamentary occasions that was much heralded—turned out to be a damp squib? It seems that the caravan and the barking dogs of the Opposition have moved on and are encamped on Derek Draper's doorstep.
§ Mr. LloydMy hon. Friend will forgive me if I mention only in passing last week's debate. I might tell my colleagues in the ministerial action group that, although the Opposition wanted to enter a narrow blind alley in that debate, the reality of Sierra Leone is continuing murder, mutilation and torture of innocent civilians by the Revolutionary United Force rebels. The world might think that that was a far more serious issue for Britain and British foreign policy. We look forward to the Opposition joining in a serious debate about the future of all the people of Sierra Leone, including those who will have to overcome the memories of the torture, the horror that so far the Opposition have failed to mention.
§ Mr. Edward Garnier (Harborough)Can the Minister say whether the report by Sir Thomas Legg will be published before the recess?
§ Mr. LloydAs the hon. and learned Gentleman ought to know, the Legg report is an independent one. Not long ago, Sir Thomas Legg wrote to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee advising him that he still hoped that the report would be with the Secretary of State by the time that Parliament rises.