§ Mr. HainTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement outlining his Department's policy concerning recruitment in the United Kingdom of mercenaries for a foreign army at war with another state friendly with the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe recruitment of mercenaries in this country is always deplorable, and in some cases unlawful by reason of the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870 which prohibits the recruitment of persons to serve with the forces of a foreign state at war with another foreign state which is at peace with the United Kingdom. Moreover, if any evidence came to light that British citizens recruited as mercenaries were engaged in illegal activities themselves, that evidence would be referred to the prosecuting authorities.