§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor), of 26 July 1999,Official Report, column 143, what was the previous United Kingdom commitment to Minurso (a) in manpower and (b) financially; and at what level the decision not to recommit was made. [95417]
§ Mr. HainFrom September 1991 until September 1993, the UK contributed 15 military observers, including the Chief of Staff to Minurso. The cost of this deployment was approximately £1,148,080.
Since the establishment of the mission, the UK has been liable for its share of UN assessed contributions. In the financial year 1998–99, the UK paid £2,359,371 in assessed contributions for Minurso.
The Government fully support the UN's efforts to bring peace to the region. As my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Hoon) made clear in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor) on 26 July 1999, we are unable to consider re-committing manpower to Minurso at this time due to heavy commitments elsewhere.