HC Deb 08 March 1993 vol 220 cc447-8W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, column 497, what plans have been made to provide British military personnel to strengthen the military component of the United Nations secretariat; and if he will make a statement;

(2)how many military personnel are currently attached to the United Nations secretariat; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

There are currently 47 military personnel from all nations attached to the United Nations secretariat. The United Kingdom provides one major and one lieutenant commander on secondment to the field operations division of the United Nations secretariat. These officers deal with finance and logistics respectively. We would consider favourably any request by the United Nations to provide further military personnel for service in the secretariat.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, column 497, what is the current status of the discussions relating to strengthening the military component of the United Nations secretariat; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The military adviser's office of the United Nations secretariat has already been reinforced to deal with specific subjects such as earmarking and training. More general strengthening and restructuring of the secretariat's military component is under consideration as part of the follow-up to the Secretary-General's report, "An Agenda for Peace", and the United Kingdom mission to the United Nations is playing an active role in these discussions.