§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what units are currently on standby for the Gulf.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonMy right hon. Friend has announced the deployment to the Gulf of a further half squadron of RAF Buccaneer aircraft. Any additional deployments will be announced as appropriate when they arise.
§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether any plans for rotating units in the Gulf could result in United Kingdom forces being replaced by forces from other Community countries;
(2) what plans he has for rotating units currently serving in the Gulf.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe roulement of units in the Gulf will, if necessary, be considered as part of the normal military planning process, but is unlikely to involve the replacement of British units by forces from other European Community countries.
§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors, if any, compromise the minimisation of allied casualties as the overriding priority in considering how and at what time the plans for the liberation of Kuwait should be put into effect.
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§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe aim of the current allied air campaign is to reduce the ability and the will of the Iraqi forces to fight, so that allied ground forces can, if necessary, complete the liberation of Kuwait in the shortest possible time with the fewest casualties.