§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many(a) UN Force and (b) UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo representatives there are in the Democratic Republic of Congo; what plans there are to increase this 315W number; what plans there are to send British troops; and if he will make a statement. [136859]
§ Mr. RammellI have been asked to reply.
Currently there are 8,045 military personnel and 61 civilian police personnel in the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC). There are also 606 international civilian staff and 704 local civilian personnel. UN Security Council Resolution 1493 of 28 July 2003 increased the authorised maximum troop level to 10,800 and there are plans to increase the actual number of military personnel to 10,300 by mid-November 2003. At present, there are six UK personnel in MONUC in key HQ positions.