HC Deb 18 January 1999 vol 323 cc315-7W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Mr. Stephen Kock's duties were in connection with DESO between 1987 and 1992. [65143]

Mr. Spellar

None.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what documents relating to the activities of Mr. Stephen Kock have been made available to NAO officials investigating defence contracts. [65140]

Mr. Spellar

I am not aware of any request for such documents having been made by NAO officials in respect of defence export contracts. With the passage of time, however, it is not possible to review all Departmental records.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the relationship was between Mr. Stephen Kock and regiments in the British Army in the period from 1968 to 1995. [65136]

Mr. Spellar

Although Mr. Kock has never served as a member of the British Army, he is a member of the Regimental Association of the Special Air Service, which he joined in 1975 by virtue of his association with the Rhodesian Special Forces. I am not aware of any other association between Mr. Kock and Regiments in the British Army in the period from 1967 to 1995.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role Mr. Stephen Kock played in negotiating, organising and promoting the Al Yamamah deal. [65154]

Mr. Spellar

The MOD is unaware of any involvement in the Al Yamamah programme, either now or in the past, by Mr. Stephen Kock.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what role Mr. Stephen Kock played in the Oman defence deal of 1981; [65155]

(2) what role Mr. Stephen Kock played in negotiating, organising or promoting the Jordan defence package; [65153]

(3) what role Mr. Stephen Kock played in the Indonesian defence deal of 1990; [65156]

(4) what role Mr. Stephen Kock played in negotiating a special forces base in Malaysia in the period 1985 to 1988. [65152]

Mr. Spellar

Mr. Kock has played no official role in defence exports to these countries.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which civil servants in his Department met Mr. Stephen Kock to discuss matters relating to defence contracts with Malaysia in the period from January 1985 to the end of December 1988. [65135]

Mr. Spellar

A meeting between Mr. Kock and the then Secretary of State for Defence's Private Office staff took place in June 1987. Additionally, members of the Defence Export Services Organisation are likely to have met Mr. Kock during this period in the course of their normal function of providing advice and support for defence exporters. However, with the passage of time, it has not been possible to identify details of specific contacts.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role was played by Mr. Stephen Kock in advising Her Majesty's Government on the propellant and arms cartel run by the Swedish citizen Mr. Karl Erik Schmitz. [65133]

Mr. Spellar

I am unaware of any role played by Mr. Kock in advising Her Majesty's Government in relation to Mr. Karl Erik Schmitz.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what involvement Mr. Stephen Kock had in the preparations for privatisation of Royal Ordnance between 1984 and 1987. [65137]

Mr. Spellar

The MOD is unaware of any involvement by Mr. Kock in the preparations for the privatisation of Royal Ordnance.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what meetings Mr. Stephen Kock had with Sir James Blyth of DESO to discuss defence sales; [65144]

(2) if he will list the meetings which (a) Sir Peter Levene and (b) Sir Colin Chandler had in their Defence Procurement, Defence Sales and DESO roles with Mr. Stephen Kock. [65134]

Mr. Spellar

The Ministry of Defence has been unable to identify any record of such meetings. With the passage of time, however, it has not been possible to review all Departmental records.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions took place between his Department's officials and representatives of the Scott Inquiry on the advisability of calling upon Mr. Stephen Kock to give evidence to that inquiry(a) before, (b) during and (c) after the inquiry. [65130]

Mr. Spellar

I am advised that no such discussions took place.