To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the size and nature of military forces required to restore peace and security in the Congo; and if he will make a statement. [116230]
The situation in and around Bunia remains complicated and volatile. The United Kingdom is concerned and calls on all parties to honour their commitments under the relevant peace agreements.
In response to a request from the UN, the UK has agreed to provide a small contribution to a multinational force to stabilise Bunia, pending the deployment of additional forces by the UN. We are actively discussing with France and the UN what precisely our contribution might be and have authorised a reconnaissance to inform our decision on the size, scope and nature of this contribution.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions have taken place at NATO regarding the situation in the Congo region. [116232]
The French Ambassador to the North Atlantic Council (NAC) informed other NATO colleagues on 28 May 2003 about the security situation in the Congo. He also confirmed that the UN had officially requested French assistance. The NAC went onto to discuss whether the operation would be under a UN or ESDP leadership. No decision has yet been made.We understand that the Interim Emergency Multinational Force for Bunia (north-eastern DRC), mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 1484 (30 May 2003), might be discussed at a NATO-EU ministerial meeting today.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what resources the Government will provide in response to the UN Secretary-Generals call for the deployment of a rapid reaction force to the Democratic Republic of Congo. [116412]
In response to a request from the UN, the United Kingdom has agreed to provide a small contribution to a multi-national force to stabilise Bunia. We are actively discussing with France and the UN what precisely our contribution might be and have authorised a reconnaissance to inform our decision on the size, scope and nature of this contribution.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he has had with (a) the UN, (b) the US, (c) the EU and (d) France regarding the situation
| Group | Requirement | Strength | Shortfall% |
| Warfare Branch Lieutenants (Submarines) | 165 | 95 | -40 |
| Category B Nuclear Watch Keepers—Chief Petty Officers | 371 | 280 | -24.5 |
| Weapons Engineering Artificers (Submarines)—Chief Petty Officers | 313 | 256 | -18.3 |
| Warfare Branch Leading Hands | 2,334 | 1,994 | -8.2 |
| Weapons Engineering Artificers (General Service)—Chief Petty Officers and Petty Officers | 878 | 806 | -6 |