§ Mr. StevensTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the BFPO 3000 appeal.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe BFPO appeal has proved enormously successful. The public responded with typical generosity, and well over 100 tonnes of mail and parcels have been sent out to troops serving in the Gulf. More than half our troops have already returned from the Gulf, and there is less of a requirement to maintain the type of support which BFPO 3000 provided. The appeal is therefore being closed. Any residual items will, where appropriate, continue to be sent to the Gulf, or will be redirected to service personnel serving in other locations, including Northern Ireland. I would like to record the Government's appreciation of the magnificent way the country showed its support for our armed forces throughout the Gulf conflict.