§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Sierra Leone citizens have had their fares paid to Britain by his Department since the entry of the Parachute Regiment into Sierra Leone; how many of these cases relate to asylum applications; what the circumstances were of the others; and how many were arranged on the initiative of the United Kingdom High Commission. [124836]
§ Mr. Hain[holding answer 7 June 2000]All British and Sierra Leonean passport holders evacuated from Sierra Leone undertook to repay the costs of their RAF flights from Freetown to Dakar. Consular staff in Dakar provided financial assistance to enable 55 Sierra Leonean nationals, all of whom either had close family in the UK440W or held resident status, to return to the UK. They all signed undertakings to repay the costs. As far as we know none of these has applied for asylum.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what medical advice his Department is giving to UK visitors to Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [125192]
§ Mr. Hain[holding answer 9 June 2000]Our travel advice gives advice on safety and security to British nationals travelling overseas. Unless there are specific concerns, travel advice does not cover medical issues. Callers requesting medical advice are referred to their GPs or the Department of Health.
At present we advise against all travel to Sierra Leone.