§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens are serving as civilian police for the UN; what operations they are involved with; where they are stationed; and how many were serving in each of the last seven years. [175188]
§ Mr. RammellA total of 127 UK citizens (serving and retired police officers) are currently serving as civilian police in UN peacekeeping missions. Four are serving in UNMISET (East Timor), 113 in UNMIK (Kosovo) and 10 in UNAMSIL (Sierra Leone).
The following table sets out the average numbers of UK police officers who served in UN missions in each year from 2001–03. This information can also be accessed through the UN peacekeeping website:http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/contributors/)
Figures before April 2001 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
§ Mr. RammellThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office has, over many years, had many discussions with international partners including the US and France, bilaterally and in the United Nations about Victor Bout. The UK has supported international efforts to end Bout's illegal activities. For example, we co-sponsored Security Council Resolution 1521 (2003) on Liberia, which imposed a travel ban on him. UK Ministers have publicly welcomed action taken against his sanctions-busting activities.