Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many British military and NHS personnel are in Sierra Leone to deal with Ebola; and what plans the Government has to increase their numbers.

Some 800 military personnel have been deployed to Sierra Leone to aid in the UK effort. These personnel have supported the establishment of a command and control logistical hub that will provide the backbone of infrastructure, commodities, training and management needed to scale up the response in Sierra Leone. They are also supporting the ongoing construction and operation of Ebola treatment centres, and are running and staffing a World Health Organisation-led Ebola training academy. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, RFA Argus, and three Merlin helicopters have now arrived in Sierra Leone to provide crucial logistic and transport support to medical teams and aid experts.

To date the UK has received 2140 applications from British medical staff and initial indications of staffing profiles and needs were received from partners on 20 October. DFID and UKMED are currently matching profiles with staffing requirements. Pre-deployment training has already started in the UK for staff deploying to the Kerry Town facility.