HC Deb 05 June 2000 vol 351 cc13-5
12. Mr. David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds)

What recent representations he has received regarding deployment of United Kingdom armed forces in Sierra Leone. [122650]

The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon)

I have received a number of representations from a variety of sources, including right hon. and hon. Members, regarding the deployment of our armed forces in Sierra Leone. I am sure that the House will want to join me in sending congratulations to those members of the forces who have been and continue to be deployed in Sierra Leone, on the skill and professionalism they have shown.

Mr. Ruffley

I am sure the House will concur with the Secretary of State's views on the excellent job that our service men and women are doing in Sierra Leone.

Can he tell us how many serving British soldiers are in Sierra Leone at present? Does he believe that he will be able to pull them out by Christmas?

Mr. Hoon

There are up to 4,000 British forces in and around Sierra Leone—not all of them are deployed on the ground; a number are in ships offshore. I make it clear to the hon. Gentleman that we remain absolutely committed to our timetable for withdrawing the bulk of UK forces currently in Sierra Leone by mid-June.

Mr. Martin Bell (Tatton)

May I take this opportunity to pay tribute to Kurt Schork? He was a brave and brilliant writer-journalist who was ambushed and killed in Sierra Leone two weeks ago, and his death causes me to wonder whether the Secretary of State is satisfied with the idea that a substantial contingent of troops are out there without any significant armour to protect them.

Mr. Hoon

I am confident—relying on the military advice that I have received—that the forces deployed in Sierra Leone are appropriate for the job that has been undertaken, and that they continue to undertake.

Mr. Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green)

Given the nature of recent speculation about changes to the profile of British armed forces in Sierra Leone—especially the idea that 300 Royal Anglians may find themselves substituting in the role currently being undertaken by the Marines—will the Secretary of State take this opportunity categorically to deny that any such deployment is being considered? Does the plan for withdrawal remain that, hopefully—give or take one or two slight problems—the Government will withdraw British troops by mid-June?

Mr. Hoon

I make it clear, as I did in answer to the substantive question, that we remain absolutely committed to the timetable of withdrawing the bulk of UK forces by the middle of June.

However, we have always made clear to the Government of Sierra Leone our commitment to training in that country. As long ago as 27 March, the Prime Minister announced longer-term assistance to the Government of Sierra Leone in the form of a UK-led international military advisory and training team. Ultimately, we expect that that training team will consist of about 90 people, with the UK providing half the total. To ensure that the training team gets under way effectively, we are considering deploying a team from the UK for about six weeks from the middle of June. However, I make it clear to the hon. Gentleman that it will not substitute for the Marines in any way; it will provide training.

Mr. John Swinney (North Tayside)

After the Secretary of State's most recent statement to the House on Sierra Leone, has he given any further consideration to the way in which arms can be provided to the Sierra Leone Government without jeopardising matters or intensifying the conflict?

Mr. Hoon

Further to the answer that I have already given, we have for some time been concerned about the lack of effective training available to the armed forces of the Government of Sierra Leone. It thus follows that, in providing training, we believe it appropriate that those trained troops should have access to weapons. I announced that decision to the House about two weeks ago. If we are providing effective training, it seems sensible that those forces should have weapons to accompany it.