Sierra Leone (Hansard, 14 January 1999)

§ Mr. Howard
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Sierra Leone. [65699]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
We are very concerned by the current situation in Sierra Leone. The democratically elected government remains under direct threat from a strong rebel force. We are closely monitoring the humanitarian situation. We fully support the democratically elected government of Sierra Leone; and the efforts of the Military Observer Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG) to restore peace and security. We are providing £3 million worth of direct logistic assistance to ECOMOG and the Government of Sierra Leone. HMS Norfolk, a Type 23 frigate, has been instructed to move to the region as a precautionary measure. We are monitoring events in Sierra Leone carefully. We are in close touch with the United Nations and others about the situation on the ground.

§ Mr. Howard
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by the Government to publicise the legal position on the supply of arms to Sierra Leone since the publication of the Legg report; and if he will make a statement. [65704]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
Following the adoption by the Security Council on 5 June 1998 of a new resolution on the supply of arms to Sierra Leone, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a press statement welcoming its adoption. On 16 June 1998 I described the content of the resolution in my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Crausby),Official Report, column 199, drawing attention to the fact that the resolution would ensure that the arms embargo on Sierra Leone applied to non-governmental forces but made explicit exemption for ECOMOG and the United Nations. I also explained that Orders in Council were being prepared to give full effect to the resolution in UK law.
In addition to my right hon. Friend's press statement the FCO News Department briefed the media extensively on the details of the resolution both before and after its adoption. In addition a telegram issued on 23 July informing all FCO and Whitehall Departments, and posts overseas, of the scope and implications of the provisions of the Orders in Council.
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These steps were taken before the publication of the Legg report on 27 July.