§ 21. Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the size and cost of the British defence force contribution in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement. [30575]
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§ 26. Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the deployment of British forces in Bosnia. [30580]
§ Mr. SoamesThere are currently some 4,400 British troops in the former Yugoslavia as part of UNPROFOR. More than 4,000 additional troops from 24 Airmobile Brigade are on standby to deploy shortly. The cost to date, as at 31 March 1995, of our contribution to UNPROFOR is some £224,000,000. The estimated cost for the currents financial year is in the region of £130,000,000. This figure does not include the cost of deploying 24 Airmobile Brigade as the modalities of funding are still the subject of discussion. In accordance with long established arrangements, my Department recovers these costs from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which in turn seeks reimbursement from the UN.