§ Lord Shepherdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have assessed the current security situation in Bosnia and any potential implications for the numbers of UK troops deployed there. [HL4413]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe UK remains fully committed to supporting NATO operations in Bosnia. In conjunction with Allies, we have just completed a careful assessment of the current security situation in Bosnia. The situation has improved sufficiently in the four years since the deployment of the Implementation Force (IFOR) for NATO to move safely to a restructured force of some18WA 20,000 members. The implication for UK forces is that 900 personnel will now return to the UK, without replacement, before Christmas. The UK contribution to the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) will then stand at some 3,300.