HC Deb 23 February 1994 vol 238 cc224-6W
Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report, column 112, what has been the outcome of the discussions between the United Nations, Croatian customs authorities and the master of RFA Sir Geraint over the error in the ship's manifest relating to munitions; whether any costs fall to be paid by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley

This matter was resolved following discussions between United Nation's officials and the Croatian Government; no blame has ben attributed to the Master of RFA Sir Geraint. The incident did not result in any costs being incurred by Her Majesty's Government.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to send additional British troops to Vitez; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley

There are no. current plans to send additional British Troops to Vitez.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to discuss the deployment of additional military forces in Bosnia with his NATO and UN counterparts; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence will continue to discuss the possible deployment of additional forces in Bosnia with his NATO and UN counterparts. It remains our view that contributions to the United Nations force in Bosnia should be drawn from a wide range of countries.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 February,Official Report, column 519, what requests he has received from the United Nations for the provision of mortar-locating radar; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley

The United Kingdom, together with a number of other nations, has received a request from the UN to provide military personnel and equipment to help support the demilitarisation of Sarajevo. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 17 February 1994, the British Government has agreed, a part of its assistance package, to provide a 60-strong Cymbeline mortar-locating troop. The troop deployed from the United Kingdom, through Vitez to arrive in Sarajevo on 22 February 1994.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 February,Official Report, column 519, what detailed information he has relating to the deployment of Dutch, Malaysian and Pakistani forces in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley

We understand that the Dutch, Malaysian and Pakistani troop deployments in support of UNPROPOR in the former Yugoslavia are as follows:

(a) Dutch 1 x Signals Battalion at HQ Bosnia-Herzegovina Command, Kiseljak, Bosnia. Role: Communications and HQ Support. 1 x joint Dutch/Belgian transport battalion at Santici near Vitez, Bosnia. Role: Secondary Distribution of humanitarian aid. 50 x UN Military Observers. TOTAL=632.

Plus1: 2 x Companies and Battalion HQ at Srebrenica, Bosnia. 1 x Company at Zepa, Bosnia. 1 x Logistic Support Company at Lukavac, Bosnia. Role: Monitoring safe areas and supporting the provision of humanitarian aid. ADDITIONAL TOTAL= 1,020. 1 The deployment of these troops is due to commence on 24 February and should be complete by 15 March. An advance party is already in place.

(b) Malaysian 1 x Company at Sarajevo, Bosnia. 1 x Company at Konjic, Bosnia. 1 x Company and Battalion HQ at Medugorje, Bosnia. Role: Support for provision of humanitarian aid. 20 x UN Military Observers. TOTAL = 858.

(c) Pakistani 30 x UN Military Observers1. 1 Pakistan is planning to send a battalion group in support of UNPROFOR in April/May. Details of numbers and locations are still to be confirmed.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 February,Official Report, column 519, if he will give details of all of the contacts he has had with his NATO counterparts relating to the situation in Bosnia in the last 14 days; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has had a number of contacts with his counterparts during the last 14 days to discuss the situation in Bosnia. In particular, on 21 February he met the Defence Ministers of the United States, France, Italy, and the Netherlands in Aviano, Italy, to review the operational readiness of their forces, the rules of engagement, and the plans for co-ordination between NATO air units and UNPROFOR ground units.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date and at what time he first learned of the offer by the Russian Government to deploy additional troops to the Sarajevo area; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley

During the visits of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to Russia, they held discussions with Mr. Yeltsin and Mr. Grachev at which the Russian administration indicated its willingness to co-operate with the United Nations and assist UNPROFOR in its task. The possibility of contributing Russian troops to maintain the ceasefire and assist with the demilitarisation of Sarajevo was also discussed, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence was informed of these discussions on their return.