HC Deb 17 January 1979 vol 960 cc776-7W
Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what special training in United Nations peace-keeping operations is being given to Her Majesty's forces (a) in the Army, (b) in the Royal Navy and (c) in the Royal Air Force.

Mr. Mulley:

Lectures and presentations on United Nations peacekeeping in theory and practice are included in the courses at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Army Staff College, Camberley. In addition, the subject is covered in the progressive scheme of education for Army officers. The other Services do not make specific provision for it in their training courses as they are less likely to become directly involved in peacekeeping operations; however, any unit which was allotted such duties would receive appropriate instruction and guidance. In the context of higher defence training United Nations peacekeeping figures in the courses at both the National Defence College and the Royal College of Defence Studies which are attended by officers of all three Services.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what stand-by forces or logistic support the United Kingdom holds in readiness for United Nations peace-keeping operations;

(2) what logistic support is currently being provided by the United Kingdom for United Nations peace-keeping operations.

Mr. Mulley:

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced to the UN General Assembly in September 1978 a new United Kingdom offer of support for UN peacekeeping operations which would be in addition to the United Kingdom's current contributions to UNFICYP and UNIFIL. He explained that if requested, and subject to national commitments and exigiencies, the United Kingdom would make available an infantry battalion group or Royal Marine commando group for up to six months. The force would be available at seven days' notice to depoly and the United Kingdom would airlift the force and its equipment to the area of operation. The United Kingdom would also be willing to provide a small number of military personnel for duty as observers and would consider as sympathetically as possible requests for other types of forces or forms of military assistance. The text of my right hon. Friend's speech to the United Nations has been placed in the Library.

At present, the United Kingdom is contributing some 800 personnel to UNFICYP and is, in addition, providing logistic support for the entire force. Some logistic support from the Sovereign base areas in Cyprus is being provided for UNIFIL. The United Kingdom transported to the Lebanon the Fiji contingent in UNIFIL and has provided the Nepalese and Fiji detachments with some equipment.