Written question asked by David Drew (Labour) on Monday, 3 March 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 6 March 2003. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Thursday, 6 March 2003 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to change the number of personnel on peace-keeping operations in (a) Bosnia, (b) Kosovo, (c) Sierra Leone and (d) Afghanistan. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to change the number of personnel on peacekeeping operations in (a) Bosnia, (b) Kosovo, (c) Sierra Leone and (d) Afghanistan. [101171] Mr. Ingram: In Bosnia and Kosovo we intend to reduce by the spring to the levels my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced in September last year. In keeping with the reductions in SFOR (Bosnia) and KFOR (Kosovo) planned as part of NATO's review of peacekeeping operations, the United Kingdom is reducing its forces from some 4,350 troops in September last year to some 2,500 by the spring of this--some 1,500 in Bosnia and 900 in Kosovo. The UK provides 21 UK personnel to the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), which is responsible for providing assistance to the Government of Sierra Leone in order to maintain law, order, peace and stability throughout the country. There are currently around 14,000 troops in UNAMSIL, which is expected to draw down by mid-2004. There are currently no plans to reduce the number of personnel in Afghanistan.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 400 c1171-2W;400 c1160W; 101171
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Armed forces Deployment Peacekeeping operations Staff Sierra Leone Afghanistan Kosovo Bosnia and Herzegovina
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk