§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they will propose, or support, in the United Nations Security Council, to persuade the government of Angola to cease employing mercenaries provided by the South African firm Executive Outcomes, in the light of that government's persistent flouting of Security Council resolutions on the matter; and whether they will ask the United Nations Secretary-General why no mention is made of the provision of mercenaries by the same company to the government of Sierra Leone, in his report to the Security Council on the situation in Sierra Leone of 21 November, reference S/1995/975.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey):With regard to Angola, I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 5 June at column WA85.
On Sierra Leone, the UN Secretary-General's report of 21 November notes the use by the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) of "non-Sierra Leonean advisers to improve the fighting skills of its troops, instil discipline and upgrade command and control". The details of any contracts with foreign companies are a matter for the Sierra Leonean Government.