HC Deb 20 November 1991 vol 199 cc200-1W
Sir John Farr

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to inform other Governments of the results so far of the Lockerbie investigation; and what steps he is taking to ensure that high-performance plastic explosive is made only under Government authority and incorporates a substantial signature to assist detection.

Mr. Garel-Jones

We have briefed a wide range of Governments throughout the world on the issue of warrants resulting from the Lockerbie investigation.

The convention on the marking of plastic explosives for the purpose of detection was signed, subject to ratification, by the United Kingdom, and 40 other states, on 1 March 1991. The convention will require all plastic explosives manufactured by parties to the convention to be "marked" through a chemical additive which will make them detectable by existing equipment. (Official Report, 20 March 1991, column 114).

The Government are now taking steps to enable ratification of the convention.

Sir John Farr

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he now has on the country in which the high-performance plastic explosive used in the Lockerbie outrage was manufactured.

Mr. Garel-Jones

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch report No. 2/90 and the report of the fatal accident inquiry relating to the Lockerbie air disaster refer to the positive evidence of a detonating high performance plastic explosive, similar to Semtex, being responsible for the explosive destruction of Pan Am flight 103. We have no evidence linking any one country to the manufacture of the plastic explosive used.

Sir John Farr

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to Czechoslovakia and any other country manufacturing Semtex or any high-performance plastic explosive in order to ensure a readily recognisable signature is included in the manufacture to assist detecting devices and sniffer dogs.

Mr. Garel-Jones

The United Kingdom worked closely with the Government of Czechoslovakia in the preparation of the convention on the marking of plastic explosives for the purpose of detection which was signed, subject to ratification, by the United Kingdom and 40 other states, including all major producers of plastic explosives, on 1 March 1991.

Sir John Farr

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Maltese Government following the findings of the Lockerbie investigation.

Mr. Garel-Jones

The Maltese authorities co-operated closely throughout the Lockerbie investigation. They have been briefed fully on the findings of the investigation.

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