HC Deb 08 June 1998 vol 313 cc456-7W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke), of 19 May 1998,Official Report, column 362, if the briefings supplied to ministers on Sierra Leone contained information pertaining to the five intelligence reports on the supply of military equipment to Sierra Leone. [44036]

Mr. Robin Cook

I refer to my statement in the House during the debate on 18 May 1998,Official Report, columns 604–11, in which I announced the investigation by Sir Thomas Legg KCB QC into allegations about the Government involvement with the supply of arms to Sierra Leone by UK citizens and firms, and said that the Terms of Reference would be placed in the Library of the House. I intend to publish the report of the investigation.

Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department's officials in Canada reported to his Department in London the allegations in the Toronto Globe and Mail of 31 July 1997 referred to by the hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) on 18 May 1998,Official Report, column 613. [43617]

Mr. Robin Cook

[holding answer 2 June 1998]: The High Commission in Ottawa faxed the press article in question to the FCO under a letter summarising its substance in early August. There was no UN arms embargo on Sierra Leone at the time, nor did the article specify the possible supply of arms to that country.

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which(a) Ministers and (b) parliamentary private secretaries in his Department have spoken to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee on matters relating to the Committee's First Special report of Session 1997–98 (HC 760), Sierra Leone: Exchange of Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary. [44320]

Mr. Robin Cook

[holding answer 5 June 1998]: I refer to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today, Official Report, column 425. I met the Chairman of the Committee on 1 June. Among other issues, we discussed the Committee's request for the release of telegrams relating to Sierra Leone. I wrote to the Chairman of the Committee on this subject later the same day.