§ 2.14 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any British citizens are undertaking military duties for either side in the Nigerian-Biafran war.]
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, there are four civilian technicians from the Ministry of Defence on loan to the Nigerian Government to advise on the administration of naval stores. All are carrying out their duties far from fighting areas and are in no way connected with naval operations which are, in any case, no longer a feature of the war. One ex-Royal Navy officer has been serving on contract with the Federal Nigerian Navy since long before the present war. There may be other British citizens serving with either the Federal or rebel armed forces who have been recruited direct. We cannot, of course, be responsible for the actions of private individuals, and we have No information about them other than Press reports and speculation.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. May I ask whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that on June 23, in Dahomey, a British instructor was piloting a plane which had to descend? Was he seconded by the British Government to the Nigerian Government? How did he come to be flying this jet plane on the Nigerian side?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, this particular pilot was not seconded by Britain. We have no pilots seconded to the Federal authorities. The only persons we have seconded are the four I mentioned earlier in my Answer, who are administering naval stores.