HL Deb 23 May 2000 vol 613 cc664-74

4.42 p.m.

Lord Burlison

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I should like to repeat a Statement made in the other place by the Secretary of State for Defence. The Statement is as follows:

"With permission, I should like to make a further Statement about the deployment of British troops in Sierra Leone.

"In my Statement last week, I informed the House about our forces' deployments to Sierra Leone. British troops are in Sierra Leone to get British nationals out, and to help get UN reinforcements in. That is what our troops were sent to do. It is what they will carry on doing as long as is necessary. They are doing this job exceptionally well. British forces in Sierra Leone have secured Lungi airport while UN forces are building up and, following the attack on the Paras last week, they have moved light guns ashore and conducted reconnaissance flights to assist in that task.

"Separately, British officers are providing military advice to UNAMSIL, the government of Sierra Leone, and the UN in New York. Our aim is to help the UN create a more effective UN force in Sierra Leone, one that can restore peace and order in Sierra Leone and help the government of Sierra Leone re-establish stability.

"This strategy is making significant progress. In the past week we have seen the arrival of capable and effective UN reinforcements through Lungi airport. The RUF has been pushed back by the forces of the government of Sierra Leone. We have seen Foday Sankoh, the RUF leader, arrested and detained by the Sierra Leone authorities. This is significant. He is ultimately responsible for the actions of the rebels he leads. His future is for the government of Sierra Leone to decide, but the RUF must be clear that the violence must stop, and that the peace process must be carried forward.

"Our longer term aim is to have a Sierra Leone that is stable, in which rebel fighting forces have been demobilised, with the government of Sierra Leone in control of the diamond producing.

"I should like to inform the House of changes in our military deployments following this encouraging progress in the UN build-up. As I made clear last week, our intention is that UK forces will stay in Sierra Leone no longer than is necessary. Indeed, UNAMSIL is preparing the way for a formal take-over of the UK's role at the airport in due course.

"The Spearhead Battalion group has played an outstandingly successful role in securing the airport since it arrived earlier this month. Conditions actually on the ground are difficult. Living conditions are extremely basic and the environment in which it is operating is hot, humid and thoroughly unpleasant. Furthermore, it needs now to prepare for other duties facing it later this year. The Government have therefore decided to replace the 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment, which will start to return to the UK this week, with 42 Commando Royal Marines. This has the practical advantage that it can be sustained logistically from the Amphibious Group of HMS "Ocean" just offshore. This will enable us to continue to secure Lungi during the continued build-up of UN forces over the period to mid-June, and to do so without ourselves over-taxing the limited infrastructure of the airport.

"This changeover will represent the first stage of our plan to withdraw the bulk of our deployed force by the previously announced timetable of mid-June. This recognises the other commitments that our Armed Forces have and my concern to avoid adding to the pressures on them. It also demonstrates the utility and effectiveness of the flexible, balanced force that we sent to the region.

"Looking ahead to when the main UK forces do withdraw, advance elements of the UK-led international military assistance training team, announced by the Prime Minister on 27th March, will be arriving in Freetown very shortly. The training team is part of the Government's wider programme of assistance in helping the government in Sierra Leone restore peace and stability after eight years of brutal civil war. The team will provide advice and training to help the government of Sierra Leone re-build a new, effective, democratically accountable armed force and Ministry of Defence in line with the Lomé peace agreement.

"Perhaps I may also take this opportunity to assure the House that we will also continue to be very mindful of the situation regarding the detainees, the delicate position of Major Andrew Harrison, and work on the continuing search for the missing aid worker Alan Smith.

"Creating new, democratically accountable armed forces in Sierra Leone is vital to the long-term restoration of peace and security in the country. The UK will provide the majority of the personnel, but the team will be a multinational effort. We are encouraging other countries with an interest in building peace in Sierra Leone to contribute to building it up—as soon as it is safe to do so—to a team of about 90 strong.

"Given the return to violence by the RUF, we will also be giving the Sierra Leone army access, if needed for operations and under the supervision of British officers, to stocks of light weapons and ammunition. The precise distribution of arms and ammunition will be carefully considered in the context of the local political situation and the wider regional issues.

"Our Armed Forces are doing an excellent job, as has been widely acknowledged both here and internationally. Our servicemen and women can be justifiably proud of the job they have done. What we are now setting in place are the arrangements for our continuing support to the government of Sierra Leone.

"Our deployment has been a practical example of the British ground forces being a force for good and has clearly demonstrated the flexible deployment concept that was at the heart of the Strategic Defence Review. We are showing both that we can deploy forces rapidly in response to a crisis but also that we will withdraw them when we judge it is right to do so.

"In summary, our immediate mission remains the same: to secure the airport for evacuation purposes and to allow the reinforcement of the UN force. Our assumptions on timing remain the same: the buildup of UN forces between now and mid-June is on schedule. The replacement of the Paras by the Marines is a sensible military step which preserves our capability on the ground for the remainder of this mission, while allowing the Parachute Regiment to return to the UK.

"Finally, our commitment to promoting stability and security in Sierra Leone remains the same. Our decision to enhance the capability of the Sierra Leone army is an essential element of that.

"We will continue to do all we reasonably can to help the UN achieve its mission, including with advice and logistical support. Britain will continue to stand by the people of Sierra Leone in their search for permanent peace."

My Lords, that concludes the Statement.

4.49 p.m.

Lord Burnham

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for repeating the Statement made in another place by his right honourable friend the Secretary of State. As the Secretary of State has rightly said, a major and justified tribute should be paid to the work of the British forces in Sierra Leone. By all we see and hear, they are doing the most remarkable job. I am sure that they will continue to do so but I trust that they will not need to do so for too long.

I must again ask about the aims of the operation. The Statement says that the aims of going in were the evacuation of British nationals and to get United Nations reinforcements into Sierra Leone. There is no doubt that what has happened is wider than that. It has our complete support because it is designed to stabilise the political and military situation in Sierra Leone, but it is not quite what was stated at the beginning as being the aim.

We welcome most warmly the replacement of the 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment with 42 Commando Royal Marines. The Statement points out that conditions at Lungi airport and around it are very basic. The fact that we have HMS "Ocean" and other detachments nearby means that life for those who are conducting operations will be very much more comfortable than it would if they had to set up at the airport on their own.

What consideration is being given to the problem of the forthcoming rainy season? The Statement refers to the humid and unpleasant atmosphere on the spot, but that will be made very much worse when the place is a sea of mud, as it will be between quite shortly and November.

One or two questions come to mind which should be asked. Has the Sierra Leone Government full control of the Sierra Leone army? We are looking for political and military stability, but we can get that stability only if a responsible government are in charge. It is not certain whether the Sierra Leone army has the benefit of the training officers and advisers from this country. In the light of that, the infusion of officers to train the Sierra Leone army is very welcome. I am sure that they will do an extremely good job.

My noble friend Lord Attlee and I were strongly criticised by the noble Baroness, Lady Symons, for talking about the rules of engagement. I shall not do that now. Rules of engagement are important at a certain level. They are written on pieces of plastic card so that soldiers know what they may or may not do. But I should like to ask the Minister about the concept of operations in Sierra Leone. I started off by saying that what seemed to be happening was wider than was originally designed. So what is the concept of operations? Do we have absolute clarity about our aims and where we intend the Sierra Leone government to end up?

I am sure that everything that can be done by British forces on the ground, in the air and at sea will be done, but there then comes a moment of how and when we get out. One of my noble friends told me that after the previous Statement a friend of his on the ground in Sierra Leone had been told that they would be there for 45 days, which is not the figure we had been quoted. No matter. But do we know how and when we will get out; and if the situation does deteriorate—let us hope that it does not, but in Kosovo and places like that it did deteriorate—what is going to happen and what plans have been made? Let us hope that our forces can be centred around HMS "Ocean" and they can get straight out, but I do not believe that it will necessarily he easy. I hope that the noble Lord will be able to tell us what plans have been made.

4.56 p.m.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, we on these Benches warmly congratulate the commanding officer and the personnel of our Armed Forces in Sierra Leone on their professionalism and efficiency and on the remarkable transformation that they have wrought already in the morale of the Sierra Leone armed forces, which, as the Statement says, has turned the tide against the RUF.

Will the build-up of the United Nations forces in Sierra Leone to the new strengths that were requested by the Secretary-General in his report to the Security Council of 19th July be complete by the time we are scheduled to leave in mid-June? Will that build-up contain the particular mix of forces for which the Secretary-General has asked, including additional air transportation assets, helicopters, the maritime unit of six armed patrol boats and so on? Have promises been made by contributing states to provide those forces? Do we have the heavy lift capacity to bring them into the area by the middle of June when our forces are scheduled to withdraw?

The Statement says that we are aiming to build up an effective armed force in Sierra Leone. Pursuant to a point made by the noble Lord, Lord Burnham, are the Government satisfied that within the proposed timescale the government of Sierra Leone will exert effective control over the three sets of armed forces that are engaged in the battle against the RUF? One is the Sierra Leone army proper, which I understand is quite small. Perhaps the Minister can enlighten us on that point.

When we are talking about training, I assume—he will correct me if I am wrong—that the training will be provided only for the regular armed forces and not for the Kamajors or for the forces under the control of Johnny Paul Koroma, which have been acting in support of the government but which, as I understand it, frequently do their own thing and therefore ought not to be supplied with weapons or ammunition or even training by the British Government. In connection with the transfer of weapons, which is mentioned in the Statement, will we make sure that the serial numbers of all weapons so transferred will be recorded so that if by any chance they do get into the hands of the RUF we can identify them and recover them if possible?

Have the Government considered whether, in consultation with the authorities in Sierra Leone, to request Foday Sankoh to make a radio broadcast calling on the members of the RUF to lay down their arms and to agree to the Lomé accords which provide for their demobilisation and disbandment? Furthermore, the RUF should be requested to release the hostage peacekeepers, 290 of whom are still being held by RUF units. Will the Government join with me in thanking President Charles Taylor of Liberia for the efforts he has made to secure the release of some 260 of the hostages? Can we ask him whether there is anything that we could do to assist in the process of securing the release of the remainder?

5 p.m.

Lord Burlison

My Lords, I thank the noble Lords, Lord Burnham and Lord Avebury, for their helpful comments on the Statement. I should like also to thank sincerely the noble Lord, Lord Burnham, for his well-meant comments in respect of the Government's present policy on this issue.

The noble Lord asked about the references made in the Statement to the mission of the UK forces. I simply say that, so far as concerns our troops—and as reaffirmed by the Defence Secretary in the House on 15th May—British forces were deployed to allow for the safe evacuation of British nationals and other entitled personnel. Essential to that has been the securing of Lungi airport, which, as the Foreign Secretary said, will be extremely valuable to the United Nations forces as they build up over the next month. That was confirmed by the Prime Minister on 11th May and remains our position today.

As regards the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Burnham, on the effect of the rainy season, which is due to begin shortly, I am sure that that comment will be borne in mind by the strategists when they consider the issue in the round. I am sure that noble Lords share my hope that by the time the rainy season arrives, we shall have been able to withdraw from operations in Sierra Leone.

On the concept of operation, I can say on that issue only that it remains the same. A general pattern has been developed that we should protect and also offer the safe evacuation of British nationals and other qualifying people; that we shall protect Lungi airport and assist the United Nations to bring in its peacekeeping forces over the coming month. The general pattern on plans for withdrawal is now well on course and, in terms of the time-scale that we have allowed for those plans, we are well on course.

The noble Lord, Lord Avebury, raised several issues. As regards morale, I think the actions taken on this occasion by Her Majesty's Government, not only to assist the government of Sierra Leone but also to assist the United Nations in its build-up of forces, have in themselves given a boost to the morale of those involved in Sierra Leone, and in particular the government.

As regards the build-up of United Nations forces and whether that is likely to be completed before our troops are in a position to withdraw, the present indications are that the UN has in place more than 11,000 troops. It appears that the figure that the United Nations has established for the peacekeeping force is well on course to be satisfied. It also appears that we shall be in a position to have the UN forces well established by the time the United Kingdom forces need to withdraw.

Furthermore, the United Nations will charter its own heavy lift equipment. United Nations forces have quickly been built up by the contributing nations. The Russians have provided four attack helicopters that are due to arrive shortly. Our replacement of forces and future withdrawal will be made in parallel with the build-up of the United Nations capability.

A further point made by the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, concerned the training facilities which have been afforded by Her Majesty's Government. It is our intention that those will be dealt with in accordance with the wishes of the government of Sierra Leone. I am sure that his point about the regular armed forces is valid and no doubt it will be taken on board. Perhaps I may also assure the noble Lord on the point he made about serial numbers. That, too, will be considered.

5.07 p.m.

Lord Richard

My Lords, my noble friend has spelt out clearly and in great detail the aims and objectives of this intervention. I understand that he has told the House that two aims are being pursued: first, to create a more effective United Nations force; and, secondly, to enable the government of Sierra Leone to restore order in their own country. Those aims are perfectly acceptable and for my part I agree with them wholeheartedly. However, perhaps I may make the point that this has moved a long way from an emergency operation to remove from the airport at Lungi British citizenry who had gathered in a hotel in order for that removal to take place. The situation is no worse for that, but it is different. Because of that difference, I believe that certain extra considerations should now apply.

I should first say in parenthesis that of course I think that our troops have done a superb job. I also think that the rotation being proposed by the Government makes a great deal of sense. However, I think that two questions now arise. First, can my noble friend ensure that the Government do not set down in their plans a firm timetable for withdrawal? If they do, then they may well find themselves in a situation where they cannot live up to that timetable. Given the aims that have been detailed by my noble friend, with which I totally agree, it may be that progress takes longer than we can foresee at this stage, or indeed than we would wish. For those reasons, I hope that the Government will not paint themselves into a corner here.

Secondly, are the Government satisfied that we have obtained Security Council cover for the actions we are taking? I may be wrong, but as far as I know, I do not think that our participation in the recent events in Sierra Leone has been considered by the Security Council in New York. Obviously we are maintaining a close liaison with the United Nations itself and I sincerely hope that, broadly speaking, we are doing what the UN thinks is sensible and what we think it is sensible for the UN to think is sensible. It is important to get the legalities absolutely right. If we do not, we may find ourselves treading on difficult ground. I do not expect my noble friend the Minister—particularly since it is his birthday—to reply in detail on the intricacies of the legal situation so far as concerns the Security Council. I see that my noble friend Lady Scotland is sitting next to him. If one or other of them could undertake to write to me on the matter of Security Council authorisation, I should be grateful.

Lord Burlison

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his comments and his well-meant words of support. I thank him particularly for the caution he expressed in relation to a timetable. I do not think that noble Lords would want me to comment hypothetically on a timetable or any of the issues concerning our involvement in Sierra Leone. The timetable is on course. British forces were indeed deployed to allow the safe evacuation of British nationals and other entitled personnel. An essential has been the securing of Lungi airport. As the Foreign Secretary has said, it will be extremely valuable in allowing United Nations forces to build up during the next month. That was reaffirmed by the Prime Minister on 11th May and it basically remains our position today.

In response to the further point made by my noble friend, I assure him that, throughout, close contact has been made with the United Nations. Indeed, Kofi Annan has welcomed British involvement. I assure my noble friend that the most deep and concerning consultation has taken place with the United Nations throughout the whole of our involvement.

The Earl of Onslow

My Lords, first, may I thank the Minister for informing the House of the stunningly original fact that West Africa is hot, damp and unhealthy? Secondly, will he please clarify a statement made by Mr Hain as reported in The Times—a journal of record? He is quoted as saying that, Sierra Leone is a British colony". He is further quoted as saying that the training delegation will not be sent in while the war is on at "full tilt". Does that mean that the training delegation waits until the war is over, when it will not be necessary; or waits until the war is lost, when it will be too late? Furthermore, what will happen if there is a longer than temporary occupation. I draw the noble Earl's attention to what Gladstone said about Tel-el-Kebir; namely, that it would be a temporary operation—and the campaign lasted from 1882 to 1956. Are reserve troops ready to go to Sierra Leone when it is time to relieve the Royal Marines, as will undoubtedly become necessary?

Lord Burlison

My Lords, I am in some difficulty as regards the newspaper item referred to, and while I accept the noble Earl's back-handed compliment about informing the House of the conditions in Sierra Leone, it is not my intention to comment on any statement by Peter Hain as reported in the press. I hope noble Lords will appreciate that I would not wish to go down that particular route. On the noble Earl's further point, again that is a route that I do not wish to go down. We have set out what is our stated mission in Sierra Leone. It is our intention to carry that out on the basis on which it is presented. I do not want to indulge in hypothetical discussion on what is likely to happen afterwards. If' there are further developments in relation to Sierra Leone, your Lordships will be informed in the normal fashion.

Viscount Waverley

My Lords, does the noble Lord believe that there should be a degree of flexibility as regards withdrawal? Do the Government feel obliged to keep our forces in Sierra Leone until all the hostages are released? Specifically, did the 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment have to borrow troops from other units before going to Sierra Leone in order to ensure full strength?

Lord Burlison

My Lords, on the noble Viscount's first point, throughout the course of events in Sierra Leone the appropriate discussions have taken place and we have been in consultation with the United Nations. Regarding his question as to whether the Paras needed reinforcements before leaving for Sierra Leone, I do not have the answer and I shall write to the noble Lord.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

My Lords, I congratulate the Government on the Statement. What use has the United Nations been able to make of our holding the airport?

Lord Burlison

My Lords, I did not quite catch my noble friend's question. I assume that she was referring to the progress we have made as regards capturing the airport.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

My Lords, perhaps I may put the question again. I apologise to my noble friend; I probably spoke too quickly. I asked what use the United Nations has been able to make of our holding the airport.

Lord Burlison

My Lords, I apologise to my noble friend for not catching her question initially. The United Nations has certainly appreciated our involvement and it has complimented us in relation to our activities. The United Nations has been quick to respond. Its response has been robust, effective and highly capable. It allows the UN to continue to build up the necessary resources, which will be helpful in our withdrawal from Sierra Leone.

Lord Blaker

My Lords, since the British Government played a major role last year in securing the Lomé Agreement, which brought into government Mr. Foday Sankoh, the leader of the rebels, as Minister responsible for the diamond mines, have the Government given any thought to the kind of political solution they would like to see after the present troubles are resolved? If I understood the Statement correctly, the Secretary of State appears to have said that the situation after the settlement should be in line with the Lomé agreement. As the agreement does what I have just described, and also brings the rebel forces into the armed forces of Sierra Leone, is that really what the Secretary of State said, and did he mean that?

Lord Burlison

My Lords, it is the wish and intention of Her Majesty's Government that we are able to assist in the establishment of a democratic regime in Sierra Leone. It is for the people of Sierra Leone eventually to determine the basis of that government.

Lord Craig of Radley

My Lords, I thank the Minister for repeating the Statement. I echo his comments about the way in which British forces have performed their duties. One way of judging Her Majesty's Government's view about the future security situation is the advice being given to British nationals and others about leaving Sierra Leone and/or about when it may be safe for them to return. What advice is being given by the Foreign Office? If the present advice is that people should leave, can the noble Lord say when the situation will be sufficiently stable for nationals to return?

Lord Burlison

My Lords, the present advice remains that British nationals should leave Sierra Leone. So far there have been 442 evacuations of entitled persons from Sierra Leone. A good number of British nationals and others who are entitled to leave still remain in that country. Our advice is that they should leave. However, we shall constantly reflect upon the circumstances in Sierra Leone.

Lord Swinfen

My Lords, the other day the papers reported that when the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment visited a naval vessel he was asked to divest himself of his clothes which stank so that they could be laundered and he could have a bath. In that part of the world the climate is most unpleasant. What arrangements are being made for the troops to have proper laundry and bathing facilities for the sake of their health? In addition, I suspect that the troops are being fed on compo rations which at best can be described as boring. What arrangements are being made for troops to have fresh food, particularly fruit and vegetables? The noble Lord has already said that the Parachute Regiment is to be replaced by the Royal Marines. What is happening to the support troops? Are they also to be replaced in due course?

Lord Burlison

My Lords, I appreciate the noble Lord's concern about British troops. I regard the 1st Battalion as the crème de la crème of British Armed Forces. I am sure that those troops are capable of looking after themselves in the circumstances. In addition, it is the desire of the British Government that those troops should have all that they need to fulfil the role that they are now playing in Sierra Leone. I am sure that that will be forthcoming. If not, those troops are very capable of making us aware of the circumstances.

Lord Hoyle

My Lords, I am sure that the whole House will join me in wishing my noble friend a very happy birthday.

Noble Lords

Hear, hear!

Lord Hoyle

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that already the presence of British troops has brought about greater stability in Sierra Leone? Will my noble friend join me in congratulating those troops on their efforts to bring about order and a peaceful solution to the unhappy state of affairs in that country?

Lord Burlison

My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Hoyle for his good wishes. People who reach my age begin to try to forget birthdays. When I arose this morning I hoped that nobody would be aware that I was a year older. I thank my noble friend for his comment about the confidence that has been built up in Sierra Leone by the involvement of British troops. I am sure noble Lords agree that our Armed Forces have been responsible for raising the morale not only of troops generally in that area but of the Government of Sierra Leone and that country's immediate neighbours. Morale has been raised immensely by the involvement of our troops.

Baroness Park of Monmouth

My Lords, can the Minister tell the House what mandate is to be given to the UN troops whose numbers are now to be greatly increased? When they went to Sierra Leone it was intended that they should collect arms from what was believed to be a group that had agreed to give them up. They found themselves confronted by a war and people who, thanks to the Lomé Agreement, now possess the diamond fields. Is anything being done by HMG to get the Security Council to change the UN mandate to the waging of war in order to restore the situation, regain the diamond fields and give the people of Sierra Leone some prospect of surviving? If we merely let the UN troops go there, do nothing and eventually withdraw, so that they are discredited not only in that country but in the rest of Africa, it will all have been for nothing. What is being done to change the UN's mandate so that the people of Sierra Leone may regain the country which they lost thanks to the Lomé Agreement?

Lord Burlison

My Lords, I assure the noble Baroness that the mandate of the United Nations remains the same. If it is necessary to respond in the way suggested by the noble Baroness I am sure that that will be taken on board. If it is necessary to make an approach along those lines, that will be the course of action which develops in future.

Lord Shepherd

My Lords, in the few seconds that remain perhaps I may be allowed to make an observation. I understand that the purpose of these proceedings is to put questions on the Statement. I believe that noble Lords have gone very much further than that in their questions to the Minister, who obviously has not come prepared to deal with such a wide range of issues on matters which do not relate to the Statement. Perhaps I may suggest to the Front Bench that this is a matter that should be considered by the Procedure Committee.