HC Deb 03 December 2002 vol 395 cc695-6W
Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military forces are allocated to(a) NATO duties and exercises, (b) the EU Rapid Reaction force and (c) SEATO. [84844]

Mr. Hoon

The United Kingdom is a significant contributor to NATO and the majority of UK armed forces can be made available for NATO deployments. There is no standing EU Rapid Reaction Force: nations' forces would come together for specific EU-led crisis management operations, for which it is envisaged that the maximum UK contribution would be up to 12,500 personnel. The South-east Asian Treaty Organisation ceased to exist in 1977.