§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government has responded to the requests by the United Nations Security Council for information on violations of arms embargoes in Rwanda by UK companies discussed in the United Security Council document Third Report of the International Commission of Inquiry (Rwanda) (S/1997/1010). [129880]
§ Mr. MullinThe Government takes seriously its responsibilities to ensure UK companies respect arms embargoes. Document S/1997/1010 mentions two requests for information: one to HM Customs and Excise (paragraph 64) and one to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) (paragraph 65). The MOD letter was answered, although the International Commission of Inquiry did not have enough time to follow up on it. The letter to HM Customs and Excise was unanswered at the time of the report, but it is very unlikely that any information about alleged criminal activity or any investigation could be made available. The report did not refer to any unanswered letters addressed to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of traditional tribal demarcations and affinities in developing countries on the effectiveness of UN arms embargoes. [130183]
§ Mr. RammellNo formal study of the impact of traditional tribal demarcations and affinities in developing countries on the effectiveness of UN arms embargoes has been made by Her Majesty's Government.