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Balkans: Reserve Forces

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Adam Ingram, has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. A new call-out order has been made under Section 56 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 so that Reservists may continue to be called out into permanent service to support military operations in the Balkans. The order took effect on 2 April 2007. Some 190 Reservists were mobilised during the 12-month period ending 31 March 2007. Although the number of UK personnel in the Balkans is reducing, we expect to continue to call out Reservists to support operations in that theatre.