§ Lord Tebbitasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will state for each of the last five years the total cost of United Kingdom military operations in support of the United Nations and how much of those costs has since been reimbursed.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThe cost of UK military participation. in UN peacekeeping during the last five financial years is shown in the table below, along with the total amount of UN reimbursement paid.
Owing to the system of UN financial administration, reimbursements received within the UK financial year do not necessarily correspond to the same accounting period. The UN only reimburse costs for formed units and pay "in theatre" costs for Observer Missions directly. Thus there is no reimbursement due for UK participation in UNTAC or the Observer Missions MINURSO and UNIKOM. Further reimbursement is due for British participation in UNFICYP for the period since 15 June 1993 and UNPROFOR. However, the level and timing of any reimbursement depends upon the UN's ability to pay, which in turn depends on member states' paying their assessed contributions.