Sierra Leone (Hansard, 21 May 1998)

§ Mr. Howard
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when Lord Avebury's letter reporting allegations that arms had been flown from Bulgaria was(a) received at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (b) seen by officials in the Private Office of the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), (c) seen by officials in the private office of the Secretary of State, (d) seen by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central and (e) seen by the Secretary of State; [41723]
523W
(2) when Lord Avebury's letter reporting allegations that arms had been flown in from Bulgaria was drawn to the attention of the Foreign Office's legal advisers; and who recommended this course of action; [41728]
(3) pursuant to his oral answer of 6 May 1998, Official Report, column 722, on arms sales to Sierra Leone, what the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), was told on 1 May that he had not been told in mid-April relating to Sandline's involvement in Sierra Leone; [41759]
(4) if he will publish details of the information received from Britain's High Commissioner to Sierra Leone relating to Sandline, indicating (a) the dates when information was received and (b) if the information was seen by (i) the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), and (ii) the Secretary of State; [41730]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
I refer the right hon. and learned Member to my statement in the House during the debate on 18 May 1998,Official Report, columns 604–11, in which I announced the investigation by Sir Thomas Legg KCB QC into allegations about Government involvement with the supply of arms to Sierra Leone by UK citizens and firms, and said that the Terms of Reference would be placed in the Library of the House. I intend to publish the report of the investigation.

§ Mr. Howard
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement of the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), of 12 March 1998,Official Report, column 841, on the tribute paid by President Kabbah to the role of the British Government, if he will list the acts of support and assistance to which he understood President Kabbah to be referring. [41760]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 12 May 1998]: I refer to the statement by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, during the debate on 12 March 1998, Official Report, column 840, and the statement I made during the debate on 18 May 1998, Official Report, columns 604–11.

§ Mr. Howard
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates in 1998(a) the issue of Sandline's involvement in Sierra Leone was discussed by ministers and (b) officials raised that issue with ministers. [41725]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 12 May 1998]: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to my statement in the House in the debate on 18 May 1998, Official Report, columns 604–11, in which I announced the investigation by Sir Thomas Legg KCB QC into allegations about Government involvement with the supply of arms to Sierra Leone by UK citizens and firms, and said that the Terms of Reference would be placed in the Library of the House. I intend to publish the report of the investigation.

§ Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what departmental oral and written briefing material was submitted directly to him before 28 April concerning Sandline's involvement with arms sales to Sierra Leone; [41600]
524W
(2) what oral or written submissions he received from his Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd) before 28 April concerning Sandline's involvement with arms sales to Sierra Leone. [41598]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 12 May 1998]: None.

§ Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) which member of his private office is responsible for policy relating to arms sales to Sierra Leone; [41609]
(2) which member of his private office was responsible for the safekeeping of the letter from Sandline's solicitors to the Foreign Secretary, noted by his special adviser on 28 April. [41597]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 12 May 1998]: The Principal Private Secretary, assisted by two Private Secretaries and the other staff of the Private Office oversees the handling of all papers received in Private Office.

§ Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the letter from Sandline's solicitors concerning arms sales to Sierra Leone, first noted by his special adviser on 28 April, was contained in a departmental file within a ministerial box. [41599]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
I refer the hon. Member to my statement in the House during the debate on 18 May 1998,Official Report, columns 604–11, in which I announced the investigation by Sir Thomas Legg KCB QC into allegations about Government involvement with the supply of arms to Sierra Leone by UK citizens and firms, and said that the Terms of Reference would be placed in the Library of the House. I intend to publish the report of the investigation.

§ Mr. Howard
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance was offered by the Government to President Kabbah of Sierra Leone during his period of exile. [41801]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 13 May 1998]: I refer to the statement by my hon. Friend the Minister of State in the debate on 12 March 1998, Official Report, column 840, and the statement I made in the debate on 18 May 1998, Official Report, columns, 604–11.

§ Mr. Howard
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if helicopters supplied by United Kingdom firms were used to assist military intervention in Sierra Leone. [41964]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 14 May 1998]: I am aware of reports that the helicopter used by the local commander of the ECOMOG troops in Sierra Leone was operated by Sandline International.

§ Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he first consulted Treasury Ministers concerning arms sales to Sierra Leone contrary to UN resolutions. [41823]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 14 May 1998]: I did not consult Treasury Ministers on this matter.
525W

§ Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he first consulted the President of the Board of Trade and officials from the Department of Trade and Industry concerning arms sales to Sierra Leone contrary to UN resolutions. [41824]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 14 May 1998]: I did not consult my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, or other DTI Ministers or officials on this matter.

§ Mr. Blunt
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what way official telegrams are recorded in(a) his Department and (b) British missions overseas. [42457]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 18 May 1998]: All FCO telegrams are numbered sequentially in annual series to and from each post. The FCO's communications centre generates and records the numbers for outgoing telegrams and records the numbers on incoming telegrams from each post. Posts do likewise for telegrams they receive from the FCO.
Some small Posts are not connected to the telegram network. These rely on facsimile for their communications.

§ Mr. Faber
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), met representatives of Sandline International in Sierra Leone on 31 March. [42287]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 18 May 1998]: No.

§ Mr. Faber
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions he has(a) met (b) spoken to Mr. John Flynn, his special representative to Sierra Leone since 9 January; and what was discussed on each occasion. [42285]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 18 May 1998]: I have not met or spoken to Mr. Flynn since my last meeting with him on 9 January. He has kept in regular contact with the FCO and met my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd) on 19 March 1998.

§ Mr. Faber
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), discussed the activities of Sandline International with representatives of NGOs at their meeting on 1 April [42283]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 18 May 1998]: No.

§ Mr. Hogg
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 12 May 1998,Official Report, column 164, if the telegram of 6 February was copied to (a) his Private Office and (b) other ministerial private offices. [42311]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 18 May 1998]: It was copied to my office and to that of the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd).
526W

§ Sir John Stanley
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Minister in his Department approved the terms of the Sierra Leone (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1997 before it was laid before Parliament. [42601]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 20 May 1998]: The Minister of State my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd).