§ Jon TrickettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what lessons he has learned from Operation678W Saif Sareea for the likely requirement for (a) additional medical personnel and (b) medical reservists to meet the UK's military commitments in 2002–03. [74645]
§ Dr. MoonieMedical personnel were deployed on Exercise SAIF SAREEA II solely to provide medical support to the deployed troops. It was not intended that they should participate as part of the exercise and therefore medical facilities were not scaled to cope with casualties that could arise from an actual operation. The Ministry of Defence is satisfied that it will be able to meet its military commitments through the use of Regular medical personnel and medical reserves.