§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests Her Majesty's Government have received from Sierra Leone for assistance in dealing with invading forces and refugees in the east of the country; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerFollowing discussions with the Government of Sierra Leone we are supplying a quantity of non-lethal defence equipment to the Sierra Leone army.
There has been no recent request from the Sierra Leone Government for help in dealing with refugees or displaced persons. We have, however, already made a significant contribution to refugee relief operations in the region, arising from the conflict in Liberia. A further £1 million has recently been allocated to United Nations agencies for this purpose.