HC Deb 21 May 2002 vol 386 c173W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military assistance has been provided to Nepal in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [57179]

Mr. Ingram

Nepal is a long-standing friend of the United Kingdom and our armies have always had close links. Over the past five years, the UK has provided low-level military assistance to Nepal through the provision of places on training courses in the UK, limited training in country with UK experts and the supply of non-lethal equipment. The Royal Nepalese Army personnel have routinely sent students to our Joint Staff College at Shrivenham, on commissioning courses at Sandhurst and to the Royal College of Defence Studies.

All our military courses are undertaken within the framework of the democratic and accountable use of military force in order to improve the general professionalism of the RNA. They include modules on legal use of force, proportionality and respect for human rights.

The UK is also funding infrastructure work being undertaken at the regional peacekeeping centre at Panchkal.

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