HL Deb 23 October 2000 vol 618 cc14-6WA
Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the deployment up to brigade level of United Kingdom-based forces in support of United Nations peacekeeping operations, including those in Sierra Leone, will in all circumstances only be at the explicit request of the United Nations made either by the Security Council or by the uniting for peace procedure and that all such deployment will remain accountable to the United Nations whatever the field operational command arrangements. [HL4165]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)

The precise terms of any deployment of UK forces in support of UN peacekeeping operations, including the command arrangements, would depend on the circumstances at the time. The final decision on making any deployment would rest with Her Majesty's Government.