HC Deb 18 January 1983 vol 35 cc106-7W
Mr. Ernie Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom troops are stationed in South Korea; what is the cost of keeping them in that country; and who is responsible for payments.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Ministry of Defence personnel are based in South Korea.

Mr. Blaker

The United Kingdom provides a platoon of 28 personnel on rotation from Hong Kong for the United Nations honour guard in South Korea. In addition there are two officers—who also serve as defence attache and assistant defence attache—and three soldiers serving in the Commonwealth liaison mission to the United Nations command, and one soldier acting as clerk to the defence attache. The annual cost of providing these personnel, including transport and other support costs, is about £600,000; this is borne by the Ministry of Defence.

Mr. Ernie Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what duties the British troops stationed in South Korea perform.

Mr. Blaker

The duties of the honour guard are normally mostly ceremonial. Members of the Commonwealth liaison mission represent the United Kingdom on the Military Armistice Commission and on other appropriate occasions, and administer the United Kingdom element of the honour guard.