HC Deb 03 March 1994 vol 238 cc873-4W
Dr. David Clark

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

Mr. Hanley

A total of 120 additional British troops were deployed to UNPROFOR Bosnia-Herzegovina command last month. The Government have no plans at this stage to send further troops, but will continue to keep developments in Bosnia under review.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 February,Official Report, column 1054, whether those British service personnel in the former Yugoslavia who will be participating in the two-month trial of the United Nations system of supply are volunteers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley

British personnel stationed at Tomislavgrad have been chosen to participate in the United Nations food trial. Tomislavgrad is a staging post for convoys and as such is subject to a fluctuating complement of personnel. This unit has been chosen, therefore, as it represents a rigorous examination of the United Nation's ability to maintain the quantity and quality of rations demanded by the British contingent in Bosnia. Since the trial must involve a complete unit, seeking individual volunteers would be impractical.