HL Deb 28 June 1999 vol 603 c6WA
Lord Hacking

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they intend to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations in relation to peacekeeping operations. [HL3334]

Lord Burlison

The Memorandum of Understanding with the UN will be signed in New York today. Our Ambassador to the UN and the UN Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping will sign on behalf of the Government and the UN respectively. The MOU, which declares the UK forces potentially available for UN peacekeeping operations, reflects the priorities established in the Strategic Defence Review for improvements in our Armed Forces: a larger and better rapid reaction capability; additional strategic lift; and better logistics support. These capabilities are those most relevant to the UN and will enable the UK to make a more effective contribution to UN peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in future.