§ Mr. HowardTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance was given to the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Sierra Leone resident in Conakry between May 1997 and April 1998 by(a) EU embassies and (b) non-EU embassies; what messages were sent by the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Sierra Leone resident in Conakry between May 1997 and April 1998 to London via the German embassy in Conakry; and for what reason no confidential bag service was available to the UK High Commissioner to Sierra Leone resident in Conakry between May 1997 and April 1998. [66384]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe German Embassy in Conakry provided limited communication and logistical support to Mr. Penfold whilst he was in Conakry. Other EU embassies and non EU embassies did not provide special assistance. Mr. Penfold received a number of classified telegrams via the German Embassy but used commercial fax facilities for sending messages to London. Mr. Penfold was operating on a temporary basis and in hotel accommodation and arrangements were made for a commercial courier service limited to non-classified material.