HC Deb 11 May 1998 vol 312 cc43-5W
Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action was taken by Ministers following publication of the article, "Britain holds talks with hired killers", in The Observer on 8 March. [41576]

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many officials or diplomats in his Department have been cited in allegations that at least one official or diplomat had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo; [41243]

(2) if he will list all the meetings that have taken place between Lieutenant-Colonel Tim Spicer and (a) the current British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, (b) himself or other ministers and (c) other officials or diplomats of his Department, stating (i) the dates when they took place, (ii) who was present, (iii) at whose request the meetings took place, (iv) where they took place and (v) what was discussed; [41229]

(3) what contacts (a) he, (b) his ministers and (c) his officials or diplomats have had with Sandline International concerning the supply by that company of arms and aid to Sierra Leone; [41238]

(4) on what date (a) he and (b) his ministers were told about the allegations that at least one diplomat had had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo; [41242]

(5) on what date officials in his Department first became aware of allegations that at least one official or diplomat had had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo; [41245]

(6) if the provision of arms and aid to Sierra Leone by Sandline International was contrary to United Nations resolution 1132; [41230]

(7) if he will list all the meetings that have taken place between Sandline International and (a) the current British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, (b) himself or other ministers and (c) other officials or diplomats of his Department, stating (i) the dates when they took place, (ii) who was present, (iii) at whose request the meetings took place, (iv) where they took place and (v) what was discussed; [41235]

(8) what are the terms of reference of his departmental inquiry into the allegations that at least one diplomat had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo; who will be conducting it; when it will start work; and when will it finish; [41237]

(9) what (a) formal and (b) informal approaches were made by Sandline International to (i) him, (ii) his ministers and (iii) officials or diplomats in his Department regarding the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone; [41239]

(10) on what date (a) he and (b) his ministers were first told that the allegations that at least one diplomat had had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo had been referred to HM Customs and Excise; [41241]

(11) on what date officials in his Department referred the allegation that at least one official or diplomat had had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo to HM Customs and Excise; [41244]

(12) on what date and for what reasons he decided to hold an internal departmental inquiry into the allegations that at least one diplomat had had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo; [41231]

(13) if he will make it his policy to publish the report and findings of the internal departmental inquiry into the allegations that at least one diplomat had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo; [41236]

(14) when (a) he and (b) his ministers were first told of the allegations made in The Observer in March that at least one diplomat had had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo; and what action he or they then took, and when. [41240]

Mr. Robin Cook

I refer the right hon. and hon. Members to the answer I gave to the Private Notice Question tabled by the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) on 6 May 1998,Official Report, columns 721–31.

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what help given by the current British High Commissioner in respect of the successful counter-coup in Sierra Leone led him to congratulate the High Commissioner to Sierra Leone on giving such help. [41234]

Mr. Robin Cook

I congratulated the British High Commissioner in June 1997 on his role in the evacuation of British citizens and others from Sierra Leone during the coup in May. I have sent no message since.

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the use of a picture of the current British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone on T-shirts being sold in that country. [41232]

Mr. Robin Cook

We are not selling any such T-shirts, and have no stake in any commercial enterprise that is.