§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of any evidence for the reported statement by the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, that "more than 15,000 children are being deployed in combat by rival factions in the fighting in Liberia"; what numbers of children under 17, and of what ages, have so far been assisted by UNICEF's special reintegration programme for child soldiers; and what is the budget for this programme.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThe Secretary General's estimate was based on information available to UNOMIL, UNICEF and other agencies working in Liberia. We have asked UNICEF for information on their reintegration programme for child soldiers.