Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) individuals, and (2) families, have been relocated to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Since the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy was established in April approximately 7,000 eligible Afghans and dependents have been relocated. The MOD is currently undertaking a data validation exercise and further information will be released to the House at the appropriate time.
Operation PITTING was the largest UK military evacuation since the second World War. We have worked tirelessly to ensure that as many people as possible, including thousands of British nationals and their families, Afghan former staff and their families and many highly vulnerable Afghan people - were relocated to the UK on over 100 RAF flights.
Our commitment to those who are not eligible under the ARAP, and the process to deliver it, is not time-limited and will endure. We will continue to do all that we can to support British Nationals who remain in Afghanistan and those Afghans who have supported us, and to put pressure on the Taliban to allow safe passage.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) individuals, and (2) families, have had their applications to be relocated to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy refused.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Regrettably we will not be able to evacuate all those we would hope to, and due to the pace at which we continue to receive and assess applications for relocation under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), it is not possible to quantify the number of applicants that have been rejected at this time.
Since its launch in April of this year, we have refused a proportion of applicants to the ARAP scheme on the grounds of eligibility. Additionally, a number of applicants were refused relocation under ARAP on the grounds of national security because we were unable to conduct an assessment due to inadequate information.
Thousands of vulnerable people who are not eligible for ARAP, including women, girls and minority groups, will be welcomed to the UK as the Home Office delivers what will be one of its most ambitious resettlement schemes: the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme. This is also separate from, and in addition to, the ARAP.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to bring the delivery of veterans’ aftercare within the remit of Veterans UK.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Ministry of Defence’s review into the Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish (Home Service) Aftercare Service has begun and is currently considering whether the remit of the Service should be widened to cover all HM Forces veterans living in Northern Ireland with Service-related injuries and conditions.
The review will consider all services currently provided to veterans in Northern Ireland via the Aftercare Service, alongside ongoing wider Government veterans’ programmes and initiatives. This presents a real opportunity to improve co-ordination of services to offer all veterans residing in Northern Ireland long-term stability for inclusive, coherent, and consistent support.
The review is ongoing, and no firm conclusions have yet been drawn on the future structure of veterans’ service delivery in Northern Ireland. The review is due to report in the spring of 2022.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the terms of reference for the Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Aftercare Service review; when the review is due to conclude; and which stakeholders have been consulted so far as part of the review.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Under the ‘New Decade New Approach’ political agreement, the UK Government committed to initiate a review of the Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Aftercare Service in Northern Ireland. The Terms of Reference for this review consider whether the remit of the Service should be widened to cover all HM Forces veterans living in Northern Ireland with Service-related injuries and conditions.
The review commenced in January 2021. Evidence-based options for Ministerial consideration on the future delivery of services to veterans living in Northern Ireland, based on service size, structure, and funding, will be brought forward in spring 2022.
This review continues to engage with stakeholders who have a role in supporting veterans living Northern Ireland. This includes: Veterans UK, the Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Aftercare Service, the Veterans Support Organisation (Northern Ireland), the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner, the Ministry of Defence, Office for Veterans Affairs, and the Northern Ireland Office. Further external engagement is being planned as the project evolves.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what engagement they have had about the Armed Forces Bill with (1) the Northern Ireland Executive, and (2) individual Ministers within the Northern Ireland Executive; when this engagement took place; and what the outcome was of any such engagement.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Northern Ireland Executive and relevant Departments, along with representatives from the Scottish and Welsh Governments, were consulted during the development of the Armed Forces Bill, and the former Minister for Defence People and Veterans wrote to the Northern Ireland First Minister and Deputy First Minister on 17 March 2021 outlining the Government’s proposals for the new Covenant duty. The Department is currently engaging with the Northern Ireland Executive on the development of the statutory guidance that will support the new Covenant Duty, including a focus group the week of 19 July 2021, to ensure that the public bodies in scope have the information they need to better understand the impact of Service life on the Armed Forces Community.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government under what arrangements they can send armed forces personnel and military equipment to sovereign bases in Cyprus; and whether they are required to provide 15 days notice in advance of any such deployment.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Sovereign Base Areas comprise a UK overseas territory, and there is no requirement for advanced notice of Armed Forces personnel or military equipment deploying/arriving from the UK.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are required to notify any authorities of their intention to move armed forces personnel and military equipment to Gibraltar; if so, to whom they give notice; and under what conditions such movements are permitted.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Gibraltar is a UK overseas territory, and there is no requirement for advanced notice of Armed Forces personnel or military equipment deploying/arriving from the UK.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether military equipment being moved from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is required to undergo inspection under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland; and if so, where any such inspections will take place.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Protocol is clear that it respects the essential state functions and territorial integrity of the UK. It therefore places no restrictions on military movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
A NATO 302 Form is not needed under the Northern Ireland Protocol to move Armed Forces personnel or military equipment between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a NATO 302 form must be completed before they can move armed forces personnel and military equipment from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland; and if so, why.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Protocol is clear that it respects the essential state functions and territorial integrity of the UK. It therefore places no restrictions on military movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
A NATO 302 Form is not needed under the Northern Ireland Protocol to move Armed Forces personnel or military equipment between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are required to give a 15 day period of advance notice of their intention to move armed forces personnel and military equipment from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland; if so, (1) to whom they give notice, (2) whether such personnel and equipment can be refused entry, and (3) what emergency procedures can be implemented if any notice period cannot be adhered to; and whether any such requirement applies to all (a) British Army, (b) Royal Navy, and (c) Royal Air force, deployments.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Protocol is clear that it respects the essential state functions and territorial integrity of the UK. It therefore places no restrictions on military movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
A NATO 302 Form is not needed under the Northern Ireland Protocol to move Armed Forces personnel or military equipment between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.