During a debate about the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mike Penning tells MPs that if there is a any possibility that British troops may be sent then pre-deployment training needs to be in place.

Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead) (Con): If there is the slightest possibility of our overstretched troops being sent to the Congo, pre-deployment training and the ability to get ready will be the most important things. How many troops are likely to be sent, and when will the units be told? They will need to get the pre-deployment in place.

Bill Rammell: With respect, the hon. Gentleman is getting ahead of himself. As the Foreign Secretary, my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown and I have made clear, we would be wrong to rule out contingencies. However, the overriding priority for us and the international community is to ensure that the MONUC force, which I state again is the largest peacekeeping force anywhere in the world, acts and operates effectively.

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