HC Deb 13 July 2000 vol 353 c664W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if police officers will operate(a) in national uniforms and (b) under a common code of practice under the provisions of the Feira Presidency proposals. [129920]

Mr. Charles Clarke

The Feira Presidency report makes no proposals as regards uniforms or codes of practice for police officers from European Union member states deployed on international civilian policing operations.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to increase police numbers in order to provide the manpower indicated in Section C of the Feira Presidency conclusions. [129923]

Mr. Charles Clarke

The Presidency Report to the Feira European Council on "Strengthening the Common European Security and Defence Policy" looks at establishing concrete targets for civilian police capabilities as part of a wider initiative on international non-military crisis management operations. The United Kingdom will be working with European Union partners to achieve the target agreed at Feira. The Presidency Report does not impose any national quotas which would oblige us to increase the number of United Kingdom officers who will be available for peace keeping missions abroad. We will continue to contribute to such operations on a voluntary basis.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the conditions under which police officers from other EU states would operate in the UK, as proposed in the Feira Presidency conclusions. [129812]

Mr. Charles Clarke

The Feira Presidency Report contains recommendations and proposals which will enable the European Union to contribute more effectively to international peace and security by enhancing its contribution to crisis management operations led by international and regional organisations. There is no suggestion that officers from European Union states should operate as part of such a mission in the United Kingdom or any other European Union state or that the circumstances in the European Union are such that they would be required in such a capacity.