Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the service of the Hunt Class Destroyer, HMS Blencathra, 1940–1957, whether they have any plans to name a future ship HMS Blencathra.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Ships names are proposed by the Royal Navy's Ships Names and Badges Committee, for selection by Royal Navy seniors, Ministers and His Majesty The King.
Names are proposed based on many factors, including the history of the Fleet and suitability to the role of the ship being named.
No ship currently in build will bear the name HMS Blencathra, however this does not preclude the name being chosen in future should it be suitable.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the United States is able to prevent the United Kingdom supplying Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles, and whether it is able to prevent the supply of other weapons to Ukraine which do not contain parts manufactured in the United States.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK respects its obligations to international partners to seek their agreement prior to the re-export of sensitive technologies, including those controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The US and UK have worked closely to ensure that Storm Shadow can be provided to Ukraine.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have carried out any analysis of the number of troops from Cuba who may be fighting for Russia against Ukraine.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Ministry of Defence are aware of the open-source reports on networks operating in Cuba and Russia alleged to have facilitated young Cubans to join Russia’s war in Ukraine. We are concerned that these individuals have been deceived and recruited to fight for Russia.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend significantly to increase production of 155mm howitzer shells to assist Ukraine; and if so, what steps they are taking to do so.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Department is considering options to increase 155mm ammunition production, in response to emerging lessons from the conflict in Ukraine as well as the prior granting-in-kind of a proportion of the UK stockpile to Ukraine. No decision has been taken on whether to allocate any of this production increase to Ukraine.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the United States regarding the reported leak of intelligence material by a 21 year old reservist.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Defence Secretary regularly speaks to the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. They spoke about this issue on 12 April and met again during the Defence Secretary's pre-planned visit to Washington on 17 April. The UK commends the swift action taken by US law enforcement to investigate and respond to the unauthorised disclosure of classified documents, including the arrest and charging of a suspect. The US remains the UK's most important ally and partner and the depth of the UK's relationship with the US remains an absolutely essential pillar of our security.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to limit the sharing of British intelligence information with the United States following the reported leak of intelligence material by a 21 year old reservist.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The UK commends the swift action taken by the US law enforcement to investigate and respond to the unauthorised disclosure of classified documents, including the arrest and charging of a suspect. The US remains the UK's most important ally and partner and the depth of the UK's relationship with the US remains an absolutely essential pillar of our security.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to giving Ukraine Apache helicopters.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Government has no current plans to gift Apache helicopters to Ukraine.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to supply Ukraine with missiles with sufficient range to destroy missile systems in Russia which may be targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The UK will keep our support to Ukraine under review and has not ruled out the possibility of providing longer range weapons systems to counter Russia's recent indiscriminate mass targeting of civilian infrastructure.
We have provided Ukraine with military aid on the understanding that it will be used in accordance with international humanitarian law. We liaise on a daily basis with the Ukrainian Government, and they are clear that equipment provided by the UK is intended for the defence of Ukraine.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need to supply Ukraine with long-range weapons to neutralise missile sites inside Russia.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
We have provided Ukraine with military aid on the understanding that it will be used in accordance with international humanitarian law. We liaise on a daily basis with the Ukrainian Government, and they are clear that equipment provided by the UK is intended for the defence of Ukraine.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with NATO allies to send all available winter warfare clothing to the Ukrainian military.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
On 9 November, we announced that the UK would provide Armed Forces of Ukraine recruits with extreme cold weather kits, including 25,000 sets of extreme cold weather clothing and 20,000 sleeping bags. The UK has been a leading advocate for the provision of winter equipment and has supported the delivery of tens of thousands of additional sets through the International Donors Coordination Cell.