§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list those countries which had armed forces involved in the two desert exercises in Jordan carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72972]
what is his assessment of the principal benefits of the two desert exercises in Jordan carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72976]
§ Mr. Doug Henderson[holding answer 1 March 1999]: Exercise DESERT SONG comprised two exercises involving members of the UK and Jordanian armed forces and was conducted in Jordan in September and October 1997. These exercises were intended to maintain and develop the capacity of the participating personnel to conduct operations in a desert environment, and are assessed to have succeeded in their aim.