§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the role of British troops in Lebanon and what is their current strength.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, the role of the multinational force in Lebanon is to help the Lebanese Government and armed forces in the Beirut area. The present strength of the British contingent is 99 men.
Lord InglewoodMy Lords, can my noble friend please tell me who, in fact, has overall command of this force in the Lebanon, which is made up of the armed forces of a number of different countries?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, it is, of course, a United Nations force, and the United Nations commander is in control of the various contingents, which include United States forces, Italian forces and French forces.
Lord InglewoodMy Lords, may I also ask whether there is any particular emphasis on the question of training and whether, in fact, these 99 men are composed of a number of different training teams? If so, is there any special role for them in that line?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, the role of our contingent is to patrol undesignated routes and to report any trouble it finds to the Lebanese armed forces, who will of course deal with it as appropriate, it being in the Lebanon. As regards training, I am afraid that I have no information for my noble friend.
§ Lord MayhewMy Lords, will the noble Lord make clear under what resolution of the United Nations these troops are operating? Is he quite sure that the facts he has given us are correct?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, I am afraid that I do not have the Security Council resolution number in front of me, but as far as I am aware the facts that I have just given are correct.
The Earl of SelkirkMy Lords, can my noble friend say whether there is an overall commander, and, if so, what nationality he is?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, I presume that there is an overall commander, but I do not know of what nationality he is.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, while accepting the need for the presence of our troops in the Lebanon at this time, could the noble Lord say for how long they are likely to be there? Is not a specific period set down? Are there any special conditions attached to their presence there; and, if there is a specific period, do Her Majesty's Government contemplate that it will be necessary to extend that period?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, this contingent has been in Beirut since 8th February. The original request was for it to be deployed in the Lebanon for three months. In response to a recent request we agreed to extend this deployment by up to a further three months; that is, up to 7th August. We have no plans to extend the deployment beyond that.
§ Lord KennetMy Lords, the noble Lord spoke of a request. From whom did the request come for this United Nations force to which we contribute?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, from the Lebanon.
§ Lord Elwyn-JonesMy Lords, is it not a matter of great importance that we have contributed to this United Nations force? Should we not derive (as I am sure the people of the Lebanon do) some gratification from that fact?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, I think it is a great credit to this country and to our armed forces that we have been asked to participate in such a force. Of course, we were delighted to do so, in the same way as we were delighted to accede to the recent request from the Lebanese Government to extend this deployment for a further three months.
§ Lord LeatherlandMy Lords, as these British troops will be serving under a non-British command, can we have an assurance that there will be a British company sergeant-major looking after their welfare?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, I did not say that the British troops are serving under a non-British command. I said that I thought it likely that there is an overall commander for the multinational force, which is rather different. But I can confirm that the 99 men are from the Queen's Dragoon Guards.
§ Lord MolsonMy Lords, does the Minister not know the name and nationality of the overall commander?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleNo, my Lords. I shall have to write to my noble friend.
§ Lord KennetMy Lords, frankly, is the noble Lord not confusing the United Nations force in the Lebanon with the recent quadripartite American. French, Italian and British force? Could that not be the explanation of the apparent confusion?
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, no, I do not think that I am confused; but if I am, naturally I shall apologise to the House.