§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what duties were performed by Lieutenant Colonel Peter Hicks whilst on service in West Africa; [52031]
(2) what duties were performed by the military intelligence liaison officer deployed to Conakry and Sierra Leone in 1998; [52028]
(3) what duties were performed by the military liaison officer deployed to Sierra Leone and Conakry in 1997. [52029]
§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 23 July 1998]: Major (local Lieutenant Colonel) Peter Hicks visited Sierra Leone for a short familiarisation visit, along with others from the MOD, from 3 to 8 March 1997. On 15 February 1998, Major Hicks deployed to Conakry, Guinea, as a military liaison officer in preparation for possible service in Sierra Leone should the democratically elected government be restored. He was transported, along with the British High Commissioner, to Freetown by HMS Cornwall on 5 March, and returned to the UK on 17 March. Major Hicks's duties in Conakry and Sierra Leone were to provide military advice to the High Commissioner, to liaise with other UK military personnel in the country and to report military information to the MOD. He subsequently visited Sierra Leone from 27 April to 8 May as a follow-up to his earlier period of service.