§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of MOD personnel, military and civilian, who are working(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas on identified humanitarian projects. [6764]
§ Dr. ReidInformation on the numbers of personnel engaged in humanitarian projects is not held centrally. However, in the former Yugoslavia 26 Service personnel work full-time on a range of humanitarian projects funded by the Department for International Development. Other humanitarian tasks are undertaken as the need arises. According to available records, on 1 July 1997 approximately 100 service personnel were assisting in flood relief operations in the Moray area of Scotland. On the same date HMS Liverpool and RFA Black Rover were in the vicinity of the island of Montserrat to provide any necessary assistance in the wake of the volcanic eruption. Parties were put ashore to assist in the construction of additional emergency facilities. It is likely that individual or small groups of service and civilian personnel were also taking part in humanitarian projects as a result of local initiatives.