HC Deb 19 July 1999 vol 335 cc427-8W
Mr. ottaway

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many armed forces personnel he estimates will be committed to(a) Northern Ireland, (b) Kosovo, (c) Bosnia, (d) the Gulf, (e) Germany, (f) Gibraltar, (g) Cyprus, (h) other Mediterranean and Near East, (i) the Far East and (j) other locations in each of the next two years; and if he will make a statement on the numbers for each location; [90936]

(2) how many armed forces personnel are currently committed to (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Kosovo, (c) Bosnia, (d) the Gulf, (e) Germany, (f) Gibraltar, (g) Cyprus, (h) other Mediterranean and Near East, (i) the Far East and (j) other locations. [90937]

Mr. Doug Henderson

The approximate numbers of Service personnel deployed on operations or garrisoned in these locations (as at 1 July 1999 unless otherwise stated) are as follows:

  1. (a) Northern Ireland—16,500
  2. (b) Kosovo—10,100 (including FYROM, Greece, Italy and RN personnel afloat)
  3. (c) Bosnia—3,590 (plus a further 1,000 in Croatia)
  4. (d) The Gulf—1,330 (as at 6 July 1999) (including personnel in Turkey to patrol the Northern No Fly Zone over Iraq)
  5. (e) Germany—27,700
  6. (f) Gibraltar—440
  7. (g) Cyprus—3,700 (1 January 1999)
  8. 428
  9. (h) Other Mediterranean and Near East—0
  10. (i) The Far East—1,070
  11. (j) Other locations—1,530

We keep these commitments under review and any adjustments made over the next two years will reflect changes to our operational and other requirements.