Yugoslavia (Hansard, 26 March 1993)

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to increasing the size of the British contribution to UNPROFOR II; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The size and composition of the British contribution to the Bosnia-Herzegovina command is determined by its role and tasks within the overall UNPROFOR deployment and by conditions in-country. The overall size of the battalion group and its supporting elements was reviewed as part of our roulement planning process.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to changing the rules of engagement for British forces deployed with UNPROFOR II; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
Rules of engagement under which British troops and other UN troops operate in the former Yugoslavia enable them to defend themselves and to carry out their mission. Rules of engagement would be reviewed if there was any significant change in the circumstances of the deployment.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decisions he has made about the length of tours of duty for British service personnel deployed with UNPROFOR Bosnia-Herzegovina command; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The length of tour for British personnel deployed with the UN protection force in the758W former Yugoslavia is six months. This length of tour is consistent with the practice of other UNPROFOR troop contributors.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answers of 26 February,Official Report, column 739, what are the reasons for the reduction in the number of British service personnel deployed with UNPROFOR Bosnia-Herzegovina command after the current units are replaced; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The reduction in numbers between the strength currently deployed and the planned strength after roulement is due mainly to the withdrawal of the Royal Engineer surge capability required to establish the United Kingdom forces in the region. That task will have been compelted by the time of the roulement.