§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the mission types for British Forces. [38509]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 28 February 2002]: The broad missions we have identified for the armed forces, as set out in paragraph 29 of Defence Policy 2001, published in February last year, are:
Peacetime Security
To provide forces needed in peacetime to ensure the protection and security of the United Kingdom, to assist as required with the evacuation of British nationals overseas, and to afford military aid to the civil authorities in the United Kingdom, including military aid to the civil power, military aid to other Government Departments and military aid to the civil community.
Security of the Overseas Territories
To provide forces to meet any challenges to the external security of a British Overseas Territories (including overseas possessions and the sovereign base areas) or to assist the civil authorities in meeting a challenge to internal security.
Defence Diplomacy
To provide forces to meet the varied activities undertaken by the Ministry of Defence to dispel hostility, build and maintain trust, and assist in the development of democratically accountable armed forces (thereby making a significant contribution to conflict prevention and resolution).
Support to Wider British Interests
To provide forces to conduct activities to promote British interests, influence and standing abroad.
Peace Support and Humanitarian Assistance Operations
To contribute forces to operations designed to prevent, contain and resolve conflict, in support of international order and humanitarian principles, and to contribute to efforts to deal with humanitarian crises and disasters.
Regional Conflict and Crisis
To contribute forces for a regional conflict (but not an attack on NATO or one of its members) which, if unchecked, could adversely affect European security or which could pose a serious threat to British interests elsewhere, or to international security. Operations are likely to be carried out under the auspices of the UN or relevant regional security organisations.
Regional Aggression against NATO
To provide forces needed to respond to a regional crisis or conflict involving a NATO ally which calls for assistance under Article 5 of the Washington treaty.
Strategic Attack on NATO
To provide, within the expected warning and readiness preparation times, the forces required to counter a strategic attack against NATO.
These defence missions form a sound basis for planning, but they can be, and are, adjusted from time to time.
§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the exercises outside Europe undertaken by the British Armed Forces in 2001 and the unit which took part. [38507]
319W
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 28 February 2002]: The exercises that UK Armed Forces took part in outside Europe are listed in the table:
320W
Exercise Location Unit Atlantic Drive Ascension 64CRE Turtle Heritage Ascension CVHQRE Turtle Truss Ascension 71 Engr Regt Longlook Australia Tri-Service Individuals Suman Warrior Australia 1 D and D Initial Link Bahrain E3D Cygnet Goose Belize 30 Sig Regt Native Trail Belize 1 RWF Native Trail Belize 7 RHA Panther Cub Belize 1 RGBW Panther Cub Belize 1 D and D Panther Cub Belize 1 D and D Panther Cub Belize 2 Para Panther Cub Belize 2 Para Panther Cub Belize 2 Para Sailfish Belize 36 Engr Regt Thirsty Panther Belize 521 Stre Diamond Cutter Botswana 1 R Irish Ulu Rajah Brunei Cast North Bass Rock Canada 22 Regt RA Cross Check Canada C130 Fingals Cave Canada KCR Maple Flag Canada 10 x JAG, 9 x F3, VC10 Maple Flag Canada 10 x JAG, 9 x F3, VC10 Medicine Man Canada 1 Staffords Medicine Man Canada 1G Medicine Man Canada KRH Medicine Man Canada RDG Pond Jump West Canada 1 RGJ Pond Jump West Canada 1 WG Snow Shoe Canada Gren Gds Snow Shoe Canada Gren Gds Western Vortex Canada GR1 Sqns Western Vortex Canada GR1 Sqns Western Vortex Canada GR1 Sqns Western Vortex Canada GR1 Sqns Western Vortex Canada GR1 Sqns Western Vortex Canada GR1 Sqns Western Vortex Canada GR1 Sqns Western Vortex Canada GR1 Sqns, F3 Sqn Bell Buoy Chile NCS Org Bright Star Egypt PJHQ Cape Petrel Falklands CBFFI Forces Cape Petrel Falklands CBFFI Forces Falkland Sound Falklands 21 Sig Regt Kelp Drive Falklands 12(AS) Engr Bde Kelp Drive Falklands 12(AS) Engr Bde Kelp Drive Falklands 12(AS) Engr Bde Kelp Fire Falklands 12(AS) Engr Bde Purple Strike Falklands CBFFI Forces Purple Strike Falklands CBFFI Forces Sea Trout Falklands 29 Regt RA Red Stripe Jamaica 1 PWO Golden Sands Jordan 1 KORBR Saffron Sands Jordan 1 Cheshire Crab Apple Kenya 38 Engr Regt Grand Prix Kenya 1 LI Grand Prix Kenya 1 Para Grand Prix Kenya 1 RRF Mono Prix Kenya 1 RRW Oak Apple Kenya 35 Engr Regt Pine Apple Kenya 33 Engr Regt Sharp Point Kenya 5 GS Med Regt Lucky Sentinel Kuwait JFHQ, 1 BDE(-) Lads Adex Malaysia HMS Gloucester
Exercise Location Unit Stardex Malaysia HMS Gloucester, FDU, Nimrods Burning Bush Morocco Gib Regt Himalyan Bluebell Nepal 4 BN REME Pacific Kukri New Zealand 1 RGR Boron Mercury Oman JFHQ & SIGS Sqn Magic Carpet Oman Jaguar Magic Roundabout Oman Nimrod Magic Roundabout Oman Nimrod Magic Roundabout Oman Nimrod Rocky Lance Oman 1 PWO Saif Sareea 2 Oman 1(UK), ARMD Div, 1 Mech Bde, 4 Armd Bde, RDG, 4 Regt RA, 21 Engr Regt, 1 IG 2 CS Regt RLC, 1CS Med Regt, 1 BN REME, HMS Cornwall, HMS Monmouth, RFA Oakleaf, 11 Sqn RAF, 12 Sqn RAF, 617 Sqn RAF, No 1 ACC Saif Sareea Mapex Oman PJHQ, JFHQ Adventure Exchange Turkey AMF(L) Elements Anvil Ghost Turkey 1 RECCE Bde, 1 Arty Bde, 7 AD Bde, 29 Engr Regt, HQ CSSG, 3 Div UAE CPX UAE PJHQ, JFHQ UAE FTX UAE RM Coy Air Warrior USA GR7 Blue Flag USA JFAC HQ Civil Bridge USA CA GRP Cope Thunder USA 9 x F3, VC10 Cope Thunder USA 9 x F3, VC10 Flying Rose USA 12 Engr Bde Flying Rose USA 12 Engr Bde Georgian Cormorant USA JSCSC Impact USA 58 FD Sqn Initial Look USA HQ JFAC JEFX USA JFACHQ JIATF USA Nimrod JIATF USA Nimrod JIATF USA Nimrod JRTC USA C130 JTFEX USA GR4, FA2, SU JTFEX USA E3D, Nimrod JTFEX USA Nimrod Kernel Blitz USA FDG Leapfest USA ITC Catterick Red Flag USA GR4, F3, JAG, VC10 Red Flag USA GR4, F3, JAG, VC10 Red Flag USA C130, GR7 Red Flag USA GR1/4 Red Flag USA GR1/4 Red Flag USA GR1/4 RM COM GP EX USA RM COY Rum Punch USA Nimrod Sea Dragon USA RM COY Stonewall USA 42 CDO Stoneyrun/Millrace USA 3 Para Torpedo Focus USA GR 1 Unified Endeavour USA JFAC HQ Updated information indicates that British forces took part in 33 exercises (including one multinational exercise) in the USA in 2001 as listed in the table, compared with 29 unilateral and bilateral exercises identified in the answer I gave on 9 January 2002, Official Report, column 831W to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin).