Written question asked by Ann Winterton (Conservative) on Monday, 29 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 January 2005. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Monday, 17 January 2005 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK has given (a) individual and (b) joint commitment to an EU battlegroup; and if he will make a statement on the rotation cycle dates.

Answer: Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the UK has given (a) individual and (b) joint commitment to an EU battlegroup; and if he will make a statement on the rotation cycle dates. [201626] Mr. Hoon: During the initial operational capability period (2005-06), the UK has offered to hold at very high readiness, between 1 January and 30 June 2005, a national battlegroup drawn from our Joint Rapid Response Force. France has also offered a national battlegroup in parallel during the first half of 2005. For the full operational capability period (from 2007 onwards), the UK intends to contribute to the EU battlegroup co-ordinated pool through a lead nation battlegroup drawn from our Joint Rapid Response Force, and a multinational battlegroup in partnership with the Netherlands using the existing UK/ Netherlands Amphibious Force. We will hold one of these at very high readiness for six months in any two year timeframe. The offers of battlegroups to the full operational capability will be co-ordinated by the contributing countries on a regular basis, to ensure that at least two battlegroups (of the 13 that have been offered so far) will be available at very high readiness at any one time.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 201626; 429 c734W;429 c737W
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Armed forces Deployment European Union EU defence policy Rapid reaction forces
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk