Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2015 to Question 214595, what the roles were of those UK military personnel deployed to UNFICYP in 2014.

Following Cypriot independence in 1960, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom entered into a treaty to guarantee the basic provisions of the constitution and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.

After the outbreak of intercommunal violence in December 1963 the UN unanimously adopted resolution 186 (1964) to prevent violence, contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and contribute to a return to normal conditions. The UK has been an integral part of delivering this mandate ever since.

The UK had on average 274 military personnel deployed to UNFICYP during 2014. One hundred and eighty-six were deployed to Sector 2 (Nicosia and its surrounds) in support of the mandate within this area of responsibility. In addition to this the UK has 88 personnel currently deployed to the UN Protected Area. This includes; 14 Staff Officers and Senior Non Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) within UNFICYP HQ, 54 members assigned to the Mobile Force Reserve, two HQ support group medics, seven military police, nine continuity posts and two posts (Officer and SNCO) managing the British Retained Site Staff.