HL Deb 03 February 1997 vol 577 c120WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will provide an account of the composition and terms of reference of (a) the "revitalised tracking unit" to trace the whereabouts of alleged war criminals indicated by the tribunal on the former Yugoslavia; (b) the "special police force" to hunt down war criminals reported to have been agreed by the US Defense Secretary, William Perry, and the defence ministers of France, the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark; and (c) the "steering board" which has been asked to consider what further measures could be taken to facilitate the delivery of indictees to the tribunal, and whether they will state in each case by what authority these bodies have been established, how they are to be financed, and to whom they will report.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

The Fugitive Intelligence Support Team is part of the Prosecutor's Office of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. It is staffed by employees of the tribunal. It acts as the contact point with outside law enforcement agencies, co-ordinating evidence on indictees. We will be seconding a police officer to it and are encouraging others to provide secondees and resources.

There has been some discussion of the idea of a special police force but no international agreement.

The Peace Implementation Council Steering Board was established at the London Peace Implementation Conference held in London on 8th–9th December 1995. It normally meets monthly and keeps the Peace Implementation Council informed of developments in the peace process. The board comprises representatives of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, Turkey (on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference), the Presidency of the European Union and the European Commission. It is chaired by the High Representative.