HC Deb 25 January 1999 vol 324 cc4-5W
23. Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the involvement of Her Majesty's Government's armed forces in the current situation in Sierra Leone. [65546]

Mr. George Robertson

HMS Norfolk was sent to Sierra Leone to demonstrate the UK's commitment to promoting peace and stability and to support our diplomatic and humanitarian efforts there. The ship is liaising with the Government of Sierra Leone and the Military Observer Group of the Economic Community of West African States forces. The ship's helicopter has already delivered some much-needed medical supplies provided by the UK Government to the devastated main hospital in Freetown. There are no plans for UK armed forces to become involved in the military conflict in support of the Government of Sierra Leone and the Military Observer Group of the Economic Community of West African States.

It is planned that the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker Oakleaf will re-supply HMS Norfolk on 26 January. We are using Oakleaf's spare container capacity to transport further humanitarian aid to Freetown provided by the UK Government.

Seven UK military personnel were deployed in Sierra Leone with the UN monitoring mission. All but one have now been withdrawn by the UN as part of a reduction in their mission.

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