HC Deb 01 June 1998 vol 313 cc97-101W
Mr. Tyrie

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all visitors to HMS Cornwall in the period during which President Kabbah was aboard and in the preceding and following weeks; and if he will give their job titles, their reasons for being there and the dates when they were aboard. [41957]

Mr. George Robertson

[holding answer 14 May 1998]: President Kabbah visited HMS Cornwall in Freetown on 19 March for a lunch jointly hosted by the British High Commissioner and the Commanding Officer of HMS Cornwall to mark the successful completion of the ship's humanitarian mission prior to her sailing the following day. The following visited the ship while President Kabbah was on board:

  • Vice President Demby
  • Dr. James Jonah—(then Ambassador to the UN, now Minister of Finance)
  • Colonel Max Khobe—(ECOMOG Task Force Commander, Sierra Leone)
  • Mr. C. Margai—(senior political figure, now Minister of Internal Affairs)
  • Mr. A. Bangura—(Sierra Leone Radio)
  • Mr. Peter Penfold—(British High Commissioner)
  • Mr. Colin Glass—(Deputy High Commissioner).

In the evening, the Commanding officer and the British High Commissioner jointly hosted a reception, also to mark the completion of Cornwall's mission. The following attended:

  • Momodu Koroma—then Kabbah Task Force (now Minister for Presidential Affairs)
  • Dr. Soyei—Cottage Hospital
  • Tejan Kella—AFRICARE (organisation involved in humanitarian work)
  • Dr. Philip Almeida—Cottage Hospital
  • Mr. V. Collier—Head of Civil Service
  • Mr. Gael—Action Against Hunger (organisation involved in humanitarian work)
  • Mr. A. R. Wurie—Head of Protocol
  • Mr. P. Lamsona—CARE (Organisation involved in humanitarian work)
  • Dr. Julius Spencer—then Kabbah supporter (now Minister of Information)
  • Mr. H. Charels—CAUSE Canada (organisation involved in humanitarian work)
  • Martin Katta
  • Mr. Koroma—Council of Churches, Sierra Leone (organisation involved in humanitarian work)
  • Dr. Joe Lappia
  • Mr. A. Cox—Concern Universal (organisation involved in humanitarian work)
  • Kanga Sessay—Kabbah Task Force
  • Ms K. Richardson—Catholic Relief Society
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  • Desmond Luke—then Presidential Adviser (now Attorney General)
  • Mr. J. Metzker—International Committee of Red Cross
  • Mrs. S. Gbujama—then Foreign Minister (now Minister for Social Welfare)
  • Mr. A. Eddo—International Committee of Red Cross
  • Mr. S. Berewa—then Attorney General
  • Jean Clement—Medecins sans Frontiéres
  • Martha Carey—Medecins sans Frontiéres
  • Rick Fitzpatrick—World Vision
  • Col. Musa—ECOMOG
  • Siko Pyker—OXFAM
  • Lt. Col. Shoboiki—ECOMOG Freetown Commander
  • Jost Vandenakker—OXFAM
  • Mr. E. Perez Porras—European Union Resident Representative to Sierra Leone
  • Clive Dawson—UK businessman
  • Tony Todd—Crown Agents Emergency Logistics Management Team Consultant
  • Mr. Hailey—Sierra Leone Police
  • Mr. Lathbry—Cable and Wireless
  • Mr. S. Lebby—British High Commission Mr. Clarke—Cable and Wireless
  • Lt. Col. Ted Glover—Defence Attaché, Accra Mr. H. Kamara
  • Mrs. Gloria Thomas—British Council
  • Dr. Frank Nyama—New England Clinic
  • Elizabeth Decker—Nurse
  • Mrs. D. Fraser
  • John BB Ganda—Head of Children's Clinic.

The following visited the ship on 19 March as Wardroom guests:

  • Mr. Juba Jubert—Sandline or associate
  • Mr. John Farr—Sandline or associate
  • Mr. Mike Ashworth—Sandline or associate
  • Mr. Rupert Bowen—Sandline or associate
  • 8 others for whom full names were not given—Sandline or associate.

The following visited the ship in the week preceding 19 March as representatives of their organisations:

  • 18 March
    • Francis Okello—United Nations
    • Martin Booth—United Nations
    • Representative of Cable and Wireless
  • 17 March
    • Lt. Col. Ted Glover—UK MOD
    • Representative of Australian World Vision
    • Representative of Filipino World Vision
    • Representative of Cable and Wireless
  • 13 March
    • Kristen Richardson—Catholic Relief Society
    • Mr. Lathby—Cable and Wireless
    • Mr. Clarke—Cable and Wireless
    • Mr. Hailey—Sierra Leone Police
  • 12 March
    • Francis Okello—United Nations
    • Colonel Andrew Gale—United Nations
    • Mike Booth—United Nations
    • Dr. Jonah—Kabbah Task Force
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    • Mike Downham—Medical Doctor
    • Clive Dawson—UK businessman
    • Peter Penfold—British High Commissioner
    • Mr. Albrecht—ICRC Driver
    • Mr. Mustaffa—CARE Driver.

A comprehensive list of job titles is not available. The ship sailed from Freetown on 20 March.

Mr. Robathan

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will place a copy of the captain's log of HMS 'Cornwall' for the last 12 months in the Library; [42407]

(2) if he will place a copy of the ship's log of HMS 'Cornwall' for the last 12 months in the Library. [42418]

Mr. George Robertson

There is no such document as a Captain's log. HMS Cornwall's ships logs for the last year are either onboard the vessel, which is currently off Southern Africa, in the post to the UK, or in storage. The logs are not therefore readily available. However, as I told the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) in my reply of 18 May 1998,Official Report, column 257, the logs for the period 1 January 1998 to 1 April 1998 are being collected and I will then consider their possible release. They cover the period that HMS Cornwall was off West Africa.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Royal Navy vessels which have(a) carried out and (b) attempted to carry out shore operations in Sierra Leone since May 1997; if he will make a statement on the operations concerned; and what involvement there was of private companies. [42709]

Mr. George Robertson

[holding answer 20 May 1998]: Since May 1997, with the exception of HMS Cornwall which, between 1 and 20 March 1998, provided humanitarian assistance to the people of Sierra Leone, supported our diplomatic efforts there and assisted in the return of the British High Commissioner, no Royal Navy vessels have carried out shore operations in Sierra Leone.

As far as involvement with private companies is concerned, the ECOMOG air operations centre, run by Sandline personnel, regularly briefed HMS Cornwall during her deployment to Sierra Leone on the security situation and the possible threat posed by rebels. This information was essential to ensure that HMS Cornwall's helicopter could safely carry out its humanitarian relief flights within the country. In addition, on 6 March, HMS Cornwall personnel spent two hours ashore repairing a Sandline helicopter, operating in support of ECOMOG, that had landed at a heli-port alongside the ship following a bird strike. While the helicopter was being repaired, the Sandline pilot and two others accompanying him were invited on-board. On 13 March, HMS Cornwall assisted Sandline personnel with some minor maintenance of the helicopter when it was at the same heli-port. On 19 March, the pilot and 11 others employed by, or connected with Sandline, were invited into the Wardroom for drinks.

Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what authorisation assistance was rendered to a Sandline helicopter by HMS Cornwall; what ship stores and spares were used during this operation; and under what head of charge these items were accounted for by the supply officer, HMS Cornwall. [42309]

Mr. George Robertson

The decision to assist with the repair of the helicopter operating in support of ECOMOG was, quite properly, taken locally by HMS Cornwall. No ship's stores or spares were used, apart from five litres of degreasant and 40 rivets. Both these items were routine consumables which were accounted for when they were issued to the ship's Flight by RNAS Culdrose prior to the Flight's embarkation in February 1998.

Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 May 1998,Official Report, column 258, to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key), what payment was made for the assistance provided for Sandline International's helicopter by the crew of HMS Cornwall; if prior approval was sought and obtained from his Department by the Captain of HMS Cornwall; if Ministers were informed; and what other assistance was given by British military personnel to Sandline, and when. [43293]

Mr. George Robertson

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb). No other assistance was provided to Sandline in addition to that detailed in my answer to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 18 May 1998,Official Report, column 258. This was properly a matter for the local commander; ministers were not informed of, nor were charges raised for, the assistance provided.

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those visitors to HMS Cornwall since 1 January 1996 who were employees of or connected with Sandline International indicating(a) the names of the visitors, (b) the dates of the visits, (c) the names of the persons met, (d) the purpose of the visits and (e) the location of the ship at the time of the visits. [41817]

Mr. George Robertson

[holding answer 14 May 1998]: Information on visitors going back to January 1996 is not available. While HMS Cornwall was providing humanitarian assistance in Sierra Leone there were two occasions on which the ship was visited by identified Sandline personnel. On 6 March the pilot of the helicopter operated on behalf of ECOMOG, Mr. Juba Jubert, and two others accompanying him, identified as Mr. Farr and Mr. Ashworth, were invited on board while the helicopter was being repaired at the heliport alongside HMS Cornwall after a bird strike. On 19 March, twelve persons employed by, or connected with Sandline, were invited into the Wardroom for drinks. The group comprised Mr. Jubert, Mr. Farr, Mr. Ashworth, Mr. Bowen, and eight others for whom full names were not given.

Mr. Blunt

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if HMS 'Monmouth' provided support to ECOMOG in discharging UNSCR 1132; and if he will make a statement. [42559]

Mr. George Robertson

[holding answer 18 May 1998]: HMS Monmouth did not provide any support to ECOMOG in discharging UNSCR 1132.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date notice was given to the crew of HMS Nottingham to report for duty to prepare to depart for Sierra Leone; and on what date preparations were begun to load that vessel with humanitarian aid for that country. [42711]

Mr. George Robertson

[holding answer 20 May 1998]No such notice was given to the crew of HMS Nottingham; nor was Nottingham loaded with humanitarian aid for that country.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of HMS Monmouth in Sierra Leone since May 1997; what requests were received from that vessel with respect to acquiring additional (i) personnel and (ii) equipment for land operations; and if representatives from Sandline International were in contact with that ship. [42710]

Mr. George Robertson

[holding answer 20 May 1998]The instructions to HMS Monmouth (and later HMS Cornwall) were to deploy to the vicinity of Sierra Leone to be prepared to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the people of Sierra Leone, to support our diplomatic efforts there, and to assist in the return of the British High Commissioner, should the democratically elected Government be restored.

No requests were made by HMS Monmouth to acquire additional personnel or equipment for land operations. As far as we can ascertain at no time, nor in any way, did representatives from Sandline International have any contact with the ship.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date Sandline started running the ECOMOG Air Operations Centre. [43460]

Mr. George Robertson

This is not a matter for my Department.