§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will propose to the Security Council of the United Nations that the terms of reference of the committee established under paragraph 10 of Resolution 1132 of 8 October concerning the situation in Sierra Leone be extended to the consideration of unauthorised military action by Nigeria resulting in loss of civilian lives and damage to property in Freetown and elsewhere and the payment of compensation to the families of the victims and the property owners.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)No. The committee's terms of reference have already been established.
The circumstances of military action in Sierra Leone are unclear and are disputed by both sides. Our Permanent Representative to the UN made clear at the first meeting of the Sanctions Committee that we expect Nigeria to operate strictly within the provisions of UNSCR 1132.