Mr. Roger Crooks (Hansard, 3 April 2000)

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions Roger Crooks was present at meetings referred to in(a) Sir Thomas Legg's report, Session 1997–98, HC 1016, (b) the First Special report of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee sessions 1997–98, HC 760, (c) the Second Special report of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee session 1997–98, HC 852 and (d) the Second report of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee sessions 1998–99, HC 116-I; and if he will make a statement. [116932]

§ Mr. Hain
This information is not held centrally and to provide such details would incur disproportionate costs.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Mr. Roger Crooks was present at the official meeting held on 3 December 1997 between his Department's officials, and representatives of the (i) Cabinet Office, (ii) Department for International Development and (iii) Ministry of Defence; and if he will make a statement. [116925]

§ Mr. Hain
No.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions on which Mr. Peter Penfold had meetings with Roger Crooks(a) in Sierra Leone, (b) in Conakry, (c) in the United Kingdom and (d) on board a Royal Naval vessel. [116928]

§ Mr. Hain
Mr. Penfold confirms that he spoke to Mr. Crooks occasionally in Sierra Leone and Conakry, but that he had no meetings with Mr. Crooks in the UK or elsewhere.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 2000,Official Report, column 287W, for what purposes his Department has had discussions on the general situation in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [116968]

§ Mr. Hain
As stated in my answer of 16 March, Mr. Crooks is refurbishing one of the main hotels in Freetown to be used as the Headquarters of UNAMSIL. FCO and MOD personnel have had occasional contacts with him over the last few years. Discussions have focused on the general situation in Sierra Leone, not arms or military matters.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions John Flynn, the Foreign Secretary's Special Representative for Sierra Leone, met Mr. Roger Crooks. [116931]

§ Mr. Hain
Never.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 2000,Official Report, column 287W, if his Department knew of Roger Crooks' dual US/Sierra Leone citizenship at the time of their discussions; and if these discussions have continued since Roger Crooks' expulsion from Sierra Leone. [116962]
284W

§ Mr. Hain
The information is as follows:
(a) No.

(b) The Government of Sierra Leone expulsion order on Mr. Crooks was lifted in May 1999. The High Commissioner reports that he had one discussion with Mr. Crooks since his return to Sierra Leone.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions(a) Miss Ann Grant, (b) Mr. Richard Dales, (c) Craig Murray, (d) Mr. Tim Andrews, (d) Mr. John Everad and (f) Lynda St. Cooke met Roger Crooks. [116927]

§ Mr. Hain
We believe that none of the six has met Roger Crooks. We have not yet been able to confirm this with one of them. When we have confirmation I will write to my hon. Friend.