§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many opposition leaders are currently in prison in Nigeria; and what representations he has made on this issue to the Nigerian Government.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 20 January 1995]: A number of political leaders are currently in detention. With our European Union partners we have made several representations to the Nigerian Government calling for the release or proper trial of those detained.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which specific human rights abuses in Nigeria he has raised with the Government of that country.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 20 January 1995]: With our European Union partners we have called for the release or early trial of all political detainees, and for the lifting of travel restrictions on political activists. We have deplored repressive decrees issued by the Nigerian Government, including the proscriptions of media houses and increases in the power to order detention without trial. We continue to raise these issues with the Nigerian Government, with our partners and bilaterally, raising individual cases of abuse wherever appropriate.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which Nigerian military or security personnel he has denied visas in line with European Union policy.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 20 January 1995]: It is not our policy to reveal details of individual visa applications. Since June 1993, however, in line with agreed European Union measures against Nigeria, visas have not been issued to members of the military and their dependants, except in a small number of exceptional cases.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the impact on Nigeria of the decision by European Foreign Ministers to suspend co-operation in the military sphere with the Nigerian Government.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 20 January 1995]: Since the European Union measures against the Nigerian military were announced in 1993, Nigerian military personnel have ceased to attend military training courses in the European Union. The British military assistance team to the Nigerian national war college was withdrawn in June 1993.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arms sales have taken place to Nigeria since the annulment of the June 1993 election.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 20 January 1995]: It has been the policy of successive Governments not to give details of individual arms sales. Information on transfers of major equipment is contained in the UN register of conventional arms, copies of the United Kingdom return to which are in the library.
In December 1993, with EU partners, we announced that all new applications for export licences for defence equipment would be reviewed, on a case-by-case basis, with the presumption of denial.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there has42W been consideration of an embargo on the importation of Nigerian oil until democracy is restored in that country.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 20 January 1995]: The European Union measures against Nigeria will be reviewed, or strengthened, in the light of progress towards a return to democratic civilian rule. All options will, of course, be considered.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken by the United Nations Commission for Human Rights to investigate human rights abuses in Nigeria.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 20 January 1995]: The 51st session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights will meet from 30 January to 10 March. The EU will be making a strong statement about its concerns regarding human rights abuses in Nigeria.