HC Deb 14 January 1994 vol 235 cc344-5W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to assist the United Nations in improving its contingency planning arrangements for military operations; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley

In his report "An Agenda for Peace", the United Nations Secretary-General identified the need to strengthen the United Nation's capacity to conduct peace support operations and invited member states to make proposals in this regard. The United Kingdom' s reply included suggestions for reinforcing the United Nation's planning mechanisms. The Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continue to be actively involved in discussions aimed at taking these suggestions forward. In addition, the United Kingdom is co-operating fully with the United Nations standby forces planning team. Five military personnel are attached to the United Nations secretariat and agreement has been given in principle to a request for two more officers to be made available.