Training (Hansard, 19 June 1997)

§ Ann Clwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of joint training exercises that British Special Forces have undertaken with(a) 261W Australian, (b) Malaysian, (c) New Zealand and (d) other Association of South-East Asian Nations special forces.[2779]

§ Dr. Reid
For reasons which are widely understood, it has been my Department's normal practice not to comment on the activities of the UK Special Forces. This practice will continue but will be kept under review in the light of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

§ Ann Clwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of the countries and military, security, paramilitary, police or special forces units which have received training in the United Kingdom MOD close quarter battle and internal security training facilities. [2777]

§ Dr. Reid
It has been the practice in the past not to release details of military assistance provided to other countries on the grounds that this information is confidential between governments and disclosure would risk damaging our international relations. This practice is now being reviewed against the background of the government's commitment to openness. I will write to my hon. Friend once the review is complete.

§ Ann Clwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the training provided by Britain's SAS to Indonesian military, police, paramilitary and special forces. [2778]

§ Dr. Reid
For reasons which are widely understood, it has been the Department's normal practice not to comment on the activities of the UK Special Forces. This practice will continue but will be kept under review in the light of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

§ Ann Clwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which countries and specific military, paramilitary, security, police or special forces units have received training at MOD facilities through formal or informal arrangements with private companies. [2781]

§ Dr. Reid
It has been the practice in the past not to release details of military assistance provided to other countries on the grounds that this information is confidential between governments and disclosure would risk damaging our international relations. This practice is now being reviewed against the background of the government's commitment to openness. I will write to my hon. Friend once the review is complete.