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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military exercises that have been cancelled in the last 12 months, stating in each case the reason for cancellation and whether it was a national or international exercise. [109187] Mr. Spellar: The information requested is set out in the tables. The lists do not include international exercises where UK forces were to have participated but which were cancelled by other nations. RN exercises--cancelled or nil participation _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Serial Name Reason Dates National/ International 1 Open Spirit Ship re-deployed to NATO August 1999 International Standing Force (Mine Countermeasure Force North) to ensure that the ship originally allocated to MCM Force did not breach harmony guidelines following additional tasking 2 Sandy Coast 99{1} Ship allocated was September 1999 International involved in ordnance clearance operations in Adriatic under NATO auspices. The operation was extended which precluded her participation in Sandy Coast 3 Falcon Nut{1} Ship re-deployed with October 1999 International Amphibious Task Group to Mediterranean in order to achieve a more cohesive force package 4 Flotex In year Budget November 1999 International Management Measure 5 Cadence Brake In year Budget November 1999 National Management Measure 6 Squadex 45/99 The opportunity arose to November 1999 International operate with French carrier which was considered to provide greater training benefits 7 Aswex 2000 In year Budget January 2000 National Management Measure 8 RM Winter Deployment In year Budget January 2000 National Management Measure _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} UK units allocated to NATO participated but there was no direct UK involvement HQ land command exercises--cancelled or nil participation _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Serial Name Reason Dates National/ International 1 Med Man 2/99 No suitable unit June-July 1999 National available{1} 2 Lion Sun 4/99 Kosovo Ops April-May 1999 National 3 Lion Sun 7/99 Kosovo Ops May-June 1999 National 4 Lion Sun 8/99 Kosovo Ops June-July 1999 National 5 Lion Sun 10/99 Kosovo Ops July-August 1999 National 6 Lion Sun 14/99 Kosovo Ops October-November 1999 National 7 Lion Sun 15/99 Kosovo Ops November-December 1999 National 8 Stoney Run/Mill Race Kosovo Ops May-October 1999 International 9 Glow-Worm/Rattlesnake Kosovo Ops June 1999 International 10 Larksong/Foxtrot Kosovo Ops May-October 1999 International 11 Courageous Bat Kosovo Ops June 1999 International 12 Devils Hat Kosovo Ops May 1999 National 13 Cygnet Vine Lack of Air Transport May 1999 National Fleet support (involved in Kosovo Ops) 14 Cygnet Spear Lack of Air Transport April 1999 National Fleet support (involved in Kosovo Ops) 15 Ardent Ground Kosovo Ops May 1999 International 16 Arrcade Guard Kosovo Ops March 1999 International 17 Arrcade Fusion Kosovo Ops October-November 1999 International 18 Comd Ops Recce Kosovo Ops June 1999 National 19 Log Study Period Kosovo Ops June 1999 National 20 Adventure Exchange Kosovo Ops September-October 1999 International _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} The exercise was cancelled in the planning stages because a suitable unit could not be identified that had undertaken pre BATUS (British Army Training Unit Suffield) training on Challenger II. RAF exercises--cancelled or nil participation _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Serial Name Reason Dates National/ International 1 Brilliant Foil Kosovo Ops April 1999 International 2 Distant Thunder Kosovo Ops May 1999 International 3 Tridente Kosovo Ops May-June 1999 International 4 Maple Flag Kosovo Ops May-June 1999 International 5 JMC 99/2 Kosovo Ops June 1999 International 6 Roving Sands Kosovo Ops June 1999 International 7 Central Enterprise Kosovo Ops June 1999 International 8 Crown Eagle Kosovo Ops June 1999 International 9 TLP 99/4 Kosovo Ops June-July 1999 International 10 Nam Kosovo Ops September 1999 International 11 Ample Train Kosovo Ops September 1999 International 12 Western Vortex Kosovo Ops April-October 1999 National _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

344 c346-7W; 109187

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Military exercises