HC Deb 24 March 1987 vol 113 cc101-2W
Miss Boothroyd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the nature of the employment of KMS Ltd. by his Department in 1982; and if he has any evidence that British subjects working for KMS are operating in (a) an operational or (b) a training role in Sri Lanka.

Mr. Eggar

KMS Ltd. was employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from May to August 1982 to provide close protection to Her Majesty's ambassador in Montevideo.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not employed KMS since then. We understand that KMS employs British citizens under a private commercial contract with the Sri Lankan Government to provide training services to its security forces. As a commercial company it contracts to provide services and is not controlled by Her Majesty's Government. We have throughout emphasised to KMS and to the Sri Lankan Government alike our clear view that British subjects should be involved only in training, and should certainly not be engaged in military operations of any kind in Sri Lanka.