HC Deb 31 March 1999 vol 328 c675W
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British personnel are currently deployed in the Balkans; and if he will make a statement. [78407]

Mr. George Robertson

On 30 March, there were some 9,680 personnel committed to operations in the Balkans region, excluding Defence Attache staff. This includes some 4,700 personnel in Greece and Macedonia in connection with operations relating to Kosovo, some 4,500 personnel serving with SFOR in Bosnia and Croatia, and some 480 Royal Navy personnel in the area aboard the frigates HMS Iron Duke and HMS Somerset and the submarine HMS Splended. In addition, there are some 450 RAF personnel in Italy supporting NATO air operations over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and in support of SFOR.