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Psychological Operations Units

Volume 450: debated on Thursday 26 October 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many psychological operations units are established in the field army; how many personnel are assigned to these units; and what his plans are to expand or establish additional units for this role. (95703)

[holding answer 20 October 2006]: There is one psychological operations unit established in the field army, which is 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group. It is currently in the process of expansion from a primarily reservist to a regular unit, and is established for 71 personnel, both regular and reserves, drawn from all three services. There are no further plans to expand or establish additional units for this role at the present time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees of the BBC have attended courses or seminars at Ministry of Defence establishments relating to psychological operations or psychological warfare activities since 1997. (95704)

[holding answer 20 October 2006]: The term “psychological operations” replaced “psychological warfare” in MOD doctrine prior to 1962, as explained in the preface to then War Office Pamphlet Guide 9729. Consequently no employees of the BBC have attended courses or seminars at MOD establishments relating to psychological warfare in the period concerned.

Psychological operations training relocated to Chicksands in April 1997. Central records indicate that no employees of the BBC have undergone training there. Guest speakers are invited periodically to present on psychological operations courses. No employees of the BBC have done so at Chicksands and we have no records of any BBC employee ever being invited in such a capacity. We are, however, aware of one BBC employee who attended a presentation by 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group at HQ Land Command in 1999.