Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether any training provided in the United Kingdom or by UK personnel to members of the Israel Defence Forces includes content aligned with the principles of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security; and what steps they have taken to ensure such training supports the prevention of gender-based violence.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. UK training courses promote British values, including respect for and adherence to human rights.
Fewer than ten Israel Defence Forces (IDF) personnel have been trained on non-combat military academic courses in the UK each year since 2020. The exact number of IDF personnel and which courses they are on is being withheld in order to protect personal information.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a mandatory Collective and Individual Training Objective in Command and Staff training for UK Defence, this includes training courses delivered to international defence students. The UK training courses being provided to Israel Defence Forces personnel include both the theory and the practical application of IHL.
Likewise, the UK training courses being provided to Israel Defence Forces personnel include Protection of Civilians (POC), both at the tactical and operational level. At the tactical level, UK Defence courses include mandatory judgmental training to ensure that a distinction is made between combatants and civilians. At the operational level, POC is integrated into both theoretical and scenario-based training. This is to ensure both UK and Overseas trainees know their responsibility for the application of the Law of Armed Conflict in subsequent operational deployments.
The Ministry of Defence aims to incorporate content aligned with the principles of the Women, Peace and Security agenda into all its training, including UK training courses offered to international students.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether any training provided by the United Kingdom to members of the Israel Defence Forces includes instructions in international humanitarian law and the laws of armed conflict; and what steps they have taken to ensure that that content is delivered and upheld.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. UK training courses promote British values, including respect for and adherence to human rights.
Fewer than ten Israel Defence Forces (IDF) personnel have been trained on non-combat military academic courses in the UK each year since 2020. The exact number of IDF personnel and which courses they are on is being withheld in order to protect personal information.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a mandatory Collective and Individual Training Objective in Command and Staff training for UK Defence, this includes training courses delivered to international defence students. The UK training courses being provided to Israel Defence Forces personnel include both the theory and the practical application of IHL.
Likewise, the UK training courses being provided to Israel Defence Forces personnel include Protection of Civilians (POC), both at the tactical and operational level. At the tactical level, UK Defence courses include mandatory judgmental training to ensure that a distinction is made between combatants and civilians. At the operational level, POC is integrated into both theoretical and scenario-based training. This is to ensure both UK and Overseas trainees know their responsibility for the application of the Law of Armed Conflict in subsequent operational deployments.
The Ministry of Defence aims to incorporate content aligned with the principles of the Women, Peace and Security agenda into all its training, including UK training courses offered to international students.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether training provided by the UK to the Israel Defence Forces includes instruction on the protection of civilians in armed conflict; and what assessment they have made of how that training aligns with the commitments by the UK under international humanitarian law.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. UK training courses promote British values, including respect for and adherence to human rights.
Fewer than ten Israel Defence Forces (IDF) personnel have been trained on non-combat military academic courses in the UK each year since 2020. The exact number of IDF personnel and which courses they are on is being withheld in order to protect personal information.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a mandatory Collective and Individual Training Objective in Command and Staff training for UK Defence, this includes training courses delivered to international defence students. The UK training courses being provided to Israel Defence Forces personnel include both the theory and the practical application of IHL.
Likewise, the UK training courses being provided to Israel Defence Forces personnel include Protection of Civilians (POC), both at the tactical and operational level. At the tactical level, UK Defence courses include mandatory judgmental training to ensure that a distinction is made between combatants and civilians. At the operational level, POC is integrated into both theoretical and scenario-based training. This is to ensure both UK and Overseas trainees know their responsibility for the application of the Law of Armed Conflict in subsequent operational deployments.
The Ministry of Defence aims to incorporate content aligned with the principles of the Women, Peace and Security agenda into all its training, including UK training courses offered to international students.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what training they have provided to members of the Israel Defence Forces in the United Kingdom since 2020; how many personnel received that training in each year; and what were the stated objectives of the training.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. UK training courses promote British values, including respect for and adherence to human rights.
Fewer than ten Israel Defence Forces (IDF) personnel have been trained on non-combat military academic courses in the UK each year since 2020. The exact number of IDF personnel and which courses they are on is being withheld in order to protect personal information.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a mandatory Collective and Individual Training Objective in Command and Staff training for UK Defence, this includes training courses delivered to international defence students. The UK training courses being provided to Israel Defence Forces personnel include both the theory and the practical application of IHL.
Likewise, the UK training courses being provided to Israel Defence Forces personnel include Protection of Civilians (POC), both at the tactical and operational level. At the tactical level, UK Defence courses include mandatory judgmental training to ensure that a distinction is made between combatants and civilians. At the operational level, POC is integrated into both theoretical and scenario-based training. This is to ensure both UK and Overseas trainees know their responsibility for the application of the Law of Armed Conflict in subsequent operational deployments.
The Ministry of Defence aims to incorporate content aligned with the principles of the Women, Peace and Security agenda into all its training, including UK training courses offered to international students.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what information they have received from the Judicial College regarding the compulsory digital training on domestic abuse introduced for family judges, magistrates, and legal advisers in October 2021; including on (1) how many individuals have completed the training, (2) how frequently the training is delivered or refreshed, and (3) what evaluations, if any, have been conducted on its effectiveness in supporting judicial understanding of domestic abuse in the family courts.
Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the noble Baroness to the answer I gave to question HL7248 on 19 May: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the compulsory digital training on domestic abuse introduced for family judges, magistrates, and legal advisers in October 2021; how many individuals have completed the training; how frequently it is delivered or refreshed; and what evaluation has been conducted of its effectiveness in improving outcomes in the family courts.
Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
To preserve judicial independence, statutory responsibility for the training of the courts judiciary in England and Wales is held by the Lady Chief Justice and fulfilled by the Judicial College. It would therefore be constitutionally inappropriate for the Government to undertake assessments of judicial training.
I am aware that the Judicial College launched updated digital training on domestic abuse for all family judges in October 2021 and for magistrates and their legal advisers in November 2021. The judicial training and magistrates and legal adviser training were mandatory.
This was followed in 2022/23 by an intensive one-year programme of mandatory live training for family judges on the harms of domestic abuse, which was also offered to judges in the civil jurisdiction, and intensive mandatory continuation training for family magistrates and legal advisers.
Domestic abuse remains a central part of induction and continuation training for all judges, magistrates and legal advisers who hear family cases. Training is regularly evaluated and reviewed by the Judicial College and updated as appropriate.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total expenditure of the contribution of the United Kingdom to the Joint Expeditionary Force in each year since 2021.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The expenditure of the United Kingdom's Standing Joint Forces Headquarters (SJFHQ), acting as the operational headquarters of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), inclusive of their contribution to JEF operations and exercises since 2021 is:
Financial Year 2021-22 Not Known
Financial Year 2022-23 Not Known
Financial Year 2023-24 £521,000
Financial Year 2024-25 £500,00
Financial Year 2025-26 £172,700
The listed expenditure comprises the operational and exercise expenditure of SJFHQ, which leads on the planning and execution of JEF activity. It does not include the operational costs borne by single services in support of JEF activity, the figures for which are not held centrally. Total expenditure is not inclusive of the costs of staff employment, which cannot be accurately quantified within an HQ that is tasked by multiple services.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report “More than a human can bear”: Israel's systematic use of sexual, reproductive, and other forms of gender-based violence since 7 October 2023 published by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel on 13 March, and what representations they have made as a result to (1) the government of Israel, and (2) the United Nations and other international organisations and officials.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply concerned by multiple allegations of sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinians by Israeli forces. We are also appalled by reports of sexual violence being perpetrated against hostages. These reports are horrifying.
The use of sexual violence in conflict is a breach of international law. We unequivocally condemn sexual violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in Israel, and wherever it occurs in the world.
The UK has consistently called for all reports, to be fully investigated to ensure justice for victims and survivors, including during a session of the UN Security Council on 20 March. We have also raised strong concerns around treatment of detainees and International Humanitarian Law compliance with the Government of Israel.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to support the Office of the High Representative in their role to oversee the civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement; and what assessment they have made of the use of Bonn Powers to counter destabilising actions.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK supports the High Representative and use of his executive powers should circumstances require it to counter destabilising actions. The UK issued a strong statement last month in support of his role and the Dayton Peace Agreement. The Minister of State for Europe, North America and the Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty MP, spoke with the High Representative on 27 March to reaffirm our position and backing for a strong High Representative response if circumstances necessitate. Dame Karen Pierce, UK Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, also spoke with the High Representative on 27 March while visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken since 1 August 2024 to ensure that all parties adhere to the terms of the Dayton Peace Agreement.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK is committed to the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA) and clear that domestic actors and signatories must continue to adhere to the DPA, which has delivered 30 years of peace in BiH. We have worked through the Peace Implementation Council, and with the High Representative, to bolster domestic institutions to respond to internal and external threats to the DPA. On the international stage, we have urged leaders to use their influence positively and refrain from actions which could undermine the constitutional framework of BiH, including in senior bilateral meetings between ministers and in multilateral fora like the United Nations.