§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that the 5 million rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition and the 4,081 mm mortar bombs provided to Sierra Leone by the UK Government are used only by the legitimate Government of Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [130481]
§ Mr. HoonThe issue of light weapons and ammunition provided by the UK Government to the Government of Sierra Leone, including the 5 million rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition and 4,000 81 mm mortar bombs, is controlled by a senior British military officer in Freetown. The Government of Sierra Leone has provided assurances that all weapons and ammunition will be used only by regular Sierra Leone Army soldiers and in accordance with international humanitarian law and human rights standards.