Gordon Brown spins the same old security yarn

To: gordon.brown@hm-treasury.gov.uk
Subject: News article
From: Marcus Williamson
Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:23:08 +0200


Mr Brown

What is your reaction to this news article?

Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks & regards
Marcus Williamson

http://comment.independent.co.uk/leading_articles/article2611723.ece

Leading article: Mr Brown spins the same old security yarn

Published: 04 June 2007

How dispiriting a start is this? Even before he has moved into Number 10, Gordon Brown is already playing the national security card. Not only this, but he is using the same well-worn techniques as his predecessor to ensure that he gets his message out on his terms and no one else's. In a series of Sunday newspaper reports - attributed, of course, to well-placed sources or none - he let it be known that he yields to no one, including the present incumbent, in his determination to crack down on terrorism.

(more...)

Nuclear Waste

Message to Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, about Nuclear Waste

To: alistair.darling@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Subject: Nuclear waste
From: Marcus Williamson
Date: Wed, 23 May 2007


Mr Darling

In this newspaper article:

http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article2565135.ece

I asked you:

"Why do you and this Government continue to advocate the use of nuclear power when the nuclear waste issue has still not been resolved?"

and you replied:

"There are quite proper concerns about waste. It's not a new problem and there has been significant progress on this. We now have technical solutions for waste disposal that could accommodate all types from existing and new nuclear power stations. The forthcoming consultation will give people the opportunity to discuss the ethical issues."

Could you please inform me in detail what are the technical solutions for nuclear waste disposal?

Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks & regards
Marcus Williamson

Bears slaughtered to provide hats for British soldiers

Message to Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence, about the use of bear skin in soldiers' hats

To: defenceminister@mod.uk
Subject: Bear slaughter
From: Marcus Williamson
Date: Tue, 01 Aug 2006


Mr Browne

I have read this article:

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article1089675.ece


It seems that black bears may be killed in order to provide the fur for the Guards' ceremonial headgear.

Could you please provide an assurance that this killing will be prevented and that an alternative material will be used instead?

Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks & regards
Marcus Williamson


Reply from Ministry of Defence

To: Marcus Williamson
Subject: Correspondence addressed to the Secretary of State for Defence
From: "Dando, Annette Miss"
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2006 10:24:26 -0000

Mr Williamson

Thank you for your email to the Secretary of State for Defence expressing concern about the use of real bear fur for the ceremonial caps used by the Guards Regiments. I am replying as this issue falls within my area of responsibility.

Regrettably efforts to find a faux fur alternative to real fur have so far proved unsuccessful for a number of reasons. These have included an inability of the faux fur to retain shape when wet, the shedding of pile during normal wear and grooming and an increase in weight due to excessive water retention. More recently, a sample was rejected because the "volume of the fibres was insufficient to allow the fabric to retain its shape" and it "lacked sufficient density between the layers of material to prevent the lower layers showing through". The material also had a particularly glossy appearance. The Department is continuing to work with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to try and find a suitable faux material.

Over the past four years, no pelts have had to be purchased, in no small part due to the success of our policy to refurbish, rather than replace, wherever possible. Previously pelts were purchased from fur traders operating under the jurisdiction of the Canadian authorities. To our knowledge no bears have been 'killed to order' to provide pelts to meet the Guards' requirements.

The Department remains committed to the examination, evaluation and, if found suitable, trial of any sample provided by PETA, or any other supplier. It is recognised that the criteria that any trial material has to meet are exacting. With the importance of the ceremonial duties undertaken by the Guards, the Department is not prepared to compromise on standards or risk soldiers being ridiculed in public because the quality of some items of their uniform falls below the expected
standard.

Please be assured that all parties are taking this matter very seriously.

I hope you find this helpful.

Yours sincerely

Annette Dando
On behalf of
General Officer Commanding
London District

Annette Dando
HR Business Partner
Ministry of Defence
HQ London District
Horse Guards
Whitehall, London
SW1A 2AX

CIA prisons in Poland

E-mail to the Polish ministry of Foreign Affairs about allegations that Poland was used to host secret CIA prisons

To: dsi@msz.gov.pl
Subject: CIA prisons in Poland?
From: Marcus Williamson
Date: Wed, 09 Nov 2005


Hello

Can you please inform whether Poland hosted CIA prisoners, as has been reported in this BBC News article:

"Watchdog urges 'CIA jails' probe"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4408410.stm

Can you please provide details of the flight which landed at Szczytno-Szymany airport in summer 2003 which may have been carrying prisoners for the CIA?

Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks & regards
Marcus Williamson