§ Mr. Bruce GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts officials in his Department have had with representatives of private military companies since guidelines were introduced as a result of the Legg Inquiry. [156152]
§ Mr. BattleThere is no accepted definition of a private military company. Since guidance was introduced, contacts have been recorded with 15–20 companies which may be judged to fall within the category of private military/security companies. These have been principally inquiries regarding general HMG policy towards particular parts of the world.
§ Mr. Bruce GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of private military companies that are operating out of the UK. [156153]
§ Mr. BattleDue to difficulties of definition, the possible blurring of boundaries between private military companies and private security companies, and the frequent shift of company identities and locations in this sector, there is no current definitive estimate of the number of private military companies operating out of the UK.