Sudan (Hansard, 19 October 1998)

§ Sir Teddy Taylor
To ask the Prime Minister what factors underlay his support for the bombing by the United States of America of the pharmaceutical factory in Sudan; and what assessment he has made of the evidence that the factory produced materials designed to facilitate terrorist activities. [55308]

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he made of the United States evidence on the role of the Sudanese pharmaceutical factory prior to giving support to the United States attack on the factory. [55440]

§ The Prime Minister
Our ally, the United States, said at the time of the strike against Al Shifa that they had compelling evidence that the chemical plant was being used for the manufacture of chemical weapons materials. It is established practice under Section 1(c) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose or discuss information received in confidence from foreign Governments.

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the evidence provided by the United States Government on the role of the Sudanese pharmaceutical factory in the recent attacks on United States embassies. [55441]

§ Mr. Baker
To ask the Prime Minister what information was passed to his office, and when, by the United States prior to his endorsement of their air strike on Sudan. [55464]

§ The Prime Minister
It is established practice under Section 1(c) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose or discuss information received in confidence from foreign Governments.

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Prime Minister in what quantity o-ethyl methyl phosphonothioic acid was identified in the Sudanese factory attacked by a cruise missile. [55456]

§ The Prime Minister
The Americans have said publicly that o-ethyl methyl phosphonothioic acid (EMPTA) was present in a soil sample acquired clandestinely at the plant and that this substance is not used in commercial applications; does not occur naturally in the environment; and is not a bi-product of another chemical process.