§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when British aid was first delivered to the towns of(a) Bo, (b) Kenema and (c) Makeni in Sierra Leone by HMS Cornwall. [41938]
§ Mr. George RobertsonBritish aid was first delivered by HMS Cornwall to Bo on 2 March, Kenema on 3 March and Makeni on 7 March.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the ship's programme for HMS Cornwall which include her visit to Sierra Leone in March. [41880]
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Date Rank Role October 1995-March 1996 Lt. Col. British Military Liaison Officer (BMLO), providing advice to the British High Commissioner and to Sierra Leone Armed forces on restructuring and training March 1996-October 1996 Lt. Col. BMLO 22–26 September 1996 1 × Lt. Col. To advise the Republic of Sierra Leone Military Forces on civil-military relations October 1996-April 1997 Lt. Col. BMLO 24 November-1 December 1996 1 × Lt. Cdr RN 1 × Lt. RN Advice on structure, capability and operating procedures of Navy 23 March-7 June 1997 1 × Capt. 1 × WO2 Advice on basic military skills. (WO2 withdrawn on medical grounds on 16 May 1997)
§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 14 May 1998]: The information on HMS Cornwall's programme of port visits since leaving the UK on 16 February is as follows:
Date 18–19 February 1998 Routine port visit to Gibraltar to refuel. 25 February 1998 Arrived Conakry, Guinea. 27 February 1998 Sailed Conakry. 1 March 1998 Arrived Freetown, Sierra Leone. During the period 1 to 20 March, Cornwall left Freetown on a number of occasions as follows:
Date 3–5 March 1998 Moved further south along the coast to position closer to Bo and Kenema and to replenish fresh water. 7–9 March 1998 Off the coast of Sierra Leone to make fresh water and for ship's company R and R. 11–12 March 1998 Overnight off the coast of Sierra Leone to make fresh water. 13–14 March 1998 Off the coast of Sierra Leone for ship's company R and R. 15–16 March 1998 Off the coast of Sierra Leone to replenish water stocks. 20 March 1998 Sailed Freetown. 3–6 April 1998 Agadir. 8–19 April 1998 Tenerife. 20–22 April 1998 Nouadhibou, Mauritania. 24–27 April 1998 Conakry, Guinea. 1–5 May 1998 Douala, Cameroon. 7–11 May 1998 Owendo, Gabon. 14–18 May 1998 Luanda, Angola. The remainder of Cornwall's programme currently includes visits to Namibia, South Africa, Ascension Island, and Ghana. There are also plans for her to pay a return visit to Freetown. Cornwall returns to the UK in August.
§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those British military personnel who have served in Sierra Leone since 1 January 1996 indicating their(a) name, rank and post held, (b) dates of service and (c) tasks undertaken. [41819]
§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 14 May 1998]: The details of British military personnel who have served in Sierra Leone since 1 January 1996 are as follows:
257WI am considering whether to release the names of those concerned, having regard to their current appointments and the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
In addition, Lt. Col. Hicks deployed to Conakry, Guinea, on 15 February prior to moving to Sierra Leone from 5–17 March 1998, as a military liaison officer in support of the British High Commissioner. He also visited Sierra Leone from 28 April-8 May 1998. Col. Gale who was the Defence Adviser in Accra, Ghana with non-resident accreditation (NRA) to Freetown between 1 January 1996 and February 1998, is currently serving in Sierra Leone as the Military Adviser to the United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy. Lt. Col. Glover succeeded Col. Gale as Defence Adviser in Accra, with NRA to Freetown in February 1998; he visited Sierra Leone from 17–20 March 1998.
§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Cornwall received orders to proceed to Sierra Leone. [42098]
§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 14 May 1998]: HMS Cornwall was instructed on 27 February 1998 to enter Freetown on 1 March.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the latitude and longitude of HMS Cornwall at 0400 on 28 February. [41878]
§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 14 May 1998]: On 28 February at 0400, HMS Cornwall was at the position 08–53.2N8 latitude and 013–47.SW3 longitude.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the ship's log of HMS Cornwall between 1 January and 1 April. [41879]
§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 14 May 1998]: The logs requested are being collected in the UK and I will write to the hon. Member about the possible release of copies as soon as I am able.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates between 2 May 1997 and 4 May 1998 his Private Office received submissions or briefing notes on the situation in Sierra Leone. [42084]
§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 14 May 1998]: A large number of submissions and briefing notes which contained reference to the situation in Sierra Leone were received in my private office throughout the period in question.
§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date the Minister for the Armed Forces was first consulted about making available his Department's resources, equipment, communications facilities, military bases and service and civilian personnel in support of Sandline International's involvement in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41844]
(2) on what date he was first consulted about making available his Department's equipment, communications facilities, military bases and service and civilian personnel in support of Sandline International's involvement in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone. [41843]
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§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 14 May 1998]: Neither my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces nor I was consulted about any such proposal.
§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what day(a) his officials or (b) his Private Office first gave him papers relating to potential operations by Sandline or others in Sierra Leone; and on what date he acknowledged them; [41958]
(2) on what day the Defence Intelligence Organisation first passed him details of potential operations by Sandline and others in Sierra Leone. [41959]
§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 14 May 1998]: As far as I have been able to ascertain, the first report which my office received of Sandline's involvement in Sierra Leone was circulated on 11 March, referring to allegations of Sandline training the Kamajor. There was no mention in this report of arms supplies or a breach of the arms embargo. Potential operations and activities of others, primarily ECOMOG forces, were referred to in a number of reports circulated within the Department, including to Ministers' Offices, dating back to May 1997.
§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the aircraft and helicopters maintained, serviced and repaired by Royal Navy personnel based aboard HMS Cornwall since 1 January 1996 indicating(a) the type of aircraft or helicopter, (b) the owner of the aircraft or helicopter, (c) the dates when the work was carried out, (d) the location where the work was carried out and (e) the nature of the work done. [41818]
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what technical assistance has been given by British military personnel on board HMS Cornwall or on land in Sierra Leone, Guinea or Liberia to Sandline International since 1 January. [41877]
§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 14 May 1998]: The information back to 1996 is not readily available. However, HMS Cornwall has reported that, in March 1998, the ship's crew gave assistance on two occasions to an HIP MI 17 helicopter operated by Sandline in support of the ECOMOG Operations. On 6 March, the ECOMOG helicopter, carrying their Task Force Commander, landed at a heliport alongside HMS Cornwall after a bird strike. HMS Cornwall staff spent 2 hours repairing the aircraft. On 13 March the same helicopter sought and received minor assistance at the same heliport.
§ Sir George YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the inquiry announced by the Foreign Secretary on 6 May will cover the role of Ministers and civil servants in his Department. [41858]
§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 14 May 1998]: Yes, where relevant.
§ Sir George YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the role of HMS Cornwall in the waters off Sierra Leone in February and March. [41861]
§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 14 May 1998]: Following the ousting of the military junta by ECOMOG forces, HMS Cornwall was deployed to Sierra Leone to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to 259W the people of Sierra Leone, to support our diplomatic efforts there, and to assist in the return of the British High Commissioner.
§ Sir George YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what role was played by British armed services in the recent overthrow of the military junta in Sierra Leone and the restoration to power of President Kabbah; [41860]
(2) when officials in his Department were informed of the role of the UK armed services in the recent overthrow of the military junta and the restoration to power of President Kabbah in Sierra Leone; [41859]
(3) when Ministers were informed of the role of UK armed services in the recent overthrow of the military junta and the restoration to power of President Kabbah in Sierra Leone. [41857]
§ Mr. George RobertsonThe UK armed services did not have such a role.
§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what specific departmental resources, equipment, communication facilities, military bases and service and civilian personnel supported Sandline International's involvement in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41842]
(2) on what date the Chief of the Air Staff, the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff and their outer offices were first informed about the involvement of his Department's personnel and military assets in support of Sandline International in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41836]
(3) on what date the Chief of the Naval Staff, the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff and their outer offices were first informed about the involvement of his Department's personnel and military assets in support of Sandline International in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41838]
(4) on what date the Permanent Secretary and his outer office staff were first informed about the involvement of his Department's personnel and military assets in support of Sandline International in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41840]
(5) on what date the Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations and Security) and his outer office were first informed about the involvement of his Department's personnel and military assets in support of Sandline International in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41835]
(6) on what date the Chief of the General Staff, the Assistant Chief of General Staff and their outer offices were first informed about the involvement of his Department's personnel and military assets in support of Sandline International in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41837]
(7) on what date the Chief of Defence Intelligence and his staff were first informed about the involvement of his Department's personnel and military assets in support of Sandline International in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41839]
260W(8) on what date the Chief of the Defence Staff and his outer office were first informed about the involvement and his Department's personnel of military assets in support of Sandline International in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone. [41841]
§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what day and at what level his Department first discussed with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office potential operations by Sandline or others in Sierra Leone. [41960]
§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 14 May 1998]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear his intention, following the Customs investigation, to ask someone from outside the Foreign Office or Diplomatic Service to conduct a full investigation into events surrounding this case. The report of that investigation will be published.