---

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Mr. Howard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by the Government to publicise the legal position on the supply of arms to Sierra Leone since the publication of the Legg report; and if he will make a statement. [65704] Mr. Tony Lloyd: Following the adoption by the Security Council on 5 June 1998 of a new resolution on the supply of arms to Sierra Leone, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a press statement welcoming its adoption. On 16 June 1998 I described the content of the resolution in my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Crausby), Official Report, column 199, drawing attention to the fact that the resolution would ensure that the arms embargo on Sierra Leone applied to non-governmental forces but made explicit exemption for ECOMOG and the United Nations. I also explained that Orders in Council were being prepared to give full effect to the resolution in UK law. In addition to my right hon. Friend's press statement the FCO News Department briefed the media extensively on the details of the resolution both before and after its adoption. In addition a telegram issued on 23 July informing all FCO and Whitehall Departments, and posts overseas, of the scope and implications of the provisions of the Orders in Council. These steps were taken before the publication of the Legg report on 27 July.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

65704; 323 c256W;323 c255-6W

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Arms trade Law Publicity UN resolutions Sanctions Sierra Leone