§ 8. Mr. HansonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the progress of the United Kingdom involvement in the military operation in Somalia.
§ Mr. RifkindThe United Kingdom has deployed two Royal Air Force Hercules aircraft together with about 90 RAF personnel to assist in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. The aircraft are currently based with United States forces in Mombasa in Kenya and since 12 December have been engaged in the transport of humanitarian relief stores to affected areas inside Somalia.
§ Mr. HansonGiven Britain's historic role in Somalia, does the Secretary of State agree that we should be doing far more than we are at present to assist the United Nations relief operation there? Is it not the case, however, that, due to the mismanagement of defence forces alluded 757 to earlier, we are not capable of supporting United Nations resolutions but have to rely on the world's policeman, the United States, to do it for us? Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that the defence review is needed urgently?
§ Mr. RifkindThe hon. Gentleman could not be more incorrect. With more than 3,500 British forces allocated to various United Nations operations around the world, Britain is at present contributing more personnel to the work of the United Nations than any country other than France. That shows the worthlessness of the hon. Gentleman's criticism.