HL Deb 21 October 1998 vol 593 c151WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether in the light of the Sandline affair, and the privatisation and commercialisation of security in Africa and elsewhere, they will consult with other states with relevant experience including particularly South Africa, and with the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Enrique Bernales Ballesteros, on amending the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries. [HL3180]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)

Her Majesty's Government are concerned about the spread of mercenary activity. We have been studying measures taken by other governments to curb such activity and have been considering why the UN Convention on the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries has attracted relatively few ratifications. We will be discussing these matters with the UN's Special Rapporteur on Mercenaries in due course.