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Written statement made by Michael Fallon (Conservative) on Thursday, 17 December 2015 in the House of Commons, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.


UK Embedded Forces

During my oral statement on 20 July 2015 (Official Report, column 1233), I committed to continue to be transparent about UK service personnel embedded in other nations’ armed forces on operations.

Today I am publishing details of UK Service personnel embedded in other nations’ armed forces who are deployed on operations together with those who work on operations in deployed coalition or single nation headquarters roles. Embeds play an important role in enhancing our national security interests around the world, strengthening our relationships with key allies and developing our own capabilities. These personnel perform a wide range of roles for their host nation including staff in headquarters planning for operations and training missions, members of a Ship’s Company, helicopter pilots, transport pilots, fast-jet pilots and aircrew and air traffic control.

Following this first report to the House, future updates will be published annually through my Department’s Annual Report and Accounts. For operational and personal security reasons the information that can be routinely released is limited.

All of our Armed Forces, including embeds, are bound by and operate in accordance with the law of England and Wales and international law, in particular, the Law of Armed Conflict.

UK SERVICE PERSONNEL EMBEDDED IN OTHER NATIONS’ ARMED FORCES AND DEPLOYED ON OR IN SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS.

(Data correct as at 30 November 2015)

HOST NATION / HEADQUARTERS

EMBEDDED HQ STAFF

EMBEDDED EXCHANGE OFFICERS

Australia

2

Canada

2

France

3

5

New Zealand

3

Spain

1

United States of America

13

17

Coalition HQs

94

EU HQs

18

NATO HQs

9

UN HQs

10

TOTAL

147

30

Notes:

  1. The data comprises: “UK service personnel embedded in another nations’ armed forces, who are deployed on operations together with those who work on operations in deployed coalition or single nation headquarters roles”.
  1. Due to the short nature of some attachments, the figures change regularly. The information is a snap-shot as at 30 November 2015.

Secondary information

Type
Written statement
Reference
HCWS431 
Session
2015-16
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Contains statistics
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Link
View this Written statement on www.parliament.uk