Peacekeeping Operations

Dr. Fox
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which military units are allocated for potential deployment with (a) EU and (b) NATO missions.

Mr. Bob Ainsworth
The allocation of military units for all deployments with EU and NATO missions takes place on a case by case basis via the UK’s force generation process, according to national priorities, and drawn from those declared to the Defence Planning process for NATO and the Headline Questionnaire for the EU. Within these forces, some units are held at high readiness and designated for potential deployment with the EU and NATO but these would not deploy without the express consent of the UK Government.

For EU missions, the UK’s contribution to the EU Battle Group roster in the second half of 2008 will be drawn from the Small Scale Focused Intervention Battlegroup element of the Joint Rapid Reaction Force. 

For NATO missions, the UK has agreed to provide a battalion to NATO’s Operational Reserve Force (ORF) until the end of 2008. On current plans, up to the end of the first half of 2008, the Spearhead Land Element(SLE) of the Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF) will meet this requirement.

The UK is also providing a contribution to the NATO Response Force (NRF) throughout 2008 to be drawn as appropriate from the Joint Rapid Reaction Force. From January-June 2008 this will be one carrier and associated aircraft together with an escort ship (a destroyer or frigate); and a deployable air operating base (including four Tornado GR4 aircraft, and associated air-to-air refuelling, airborne early warning, and tactical air transport aircraft). From July-December 2008 the UK’s contribution to the NRF will be four air defence aircraft and eight ground attack aircraft together with associated air-to-air refuelling, airborne early warning, and tactical air transport aircraft; and a mine counter measures task group (including a command ship, a destroyer/frigate escort, and a survey vessel).