Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any member of (1) the British Armed Forces, and (2) a police force, has been sent on a leadership course run by Common Purpose; and, if so, (a) how many during each of the last 20 years, and (b) for what reason.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Information about the courses attended by the British Armed Forces personnel during the last 20 years is not held in a way which would allow a fuller answer without incuring disproportionate cost. Some records, however, show that between 2014 and 2019 six Army officers, one in each year, attended leadership development courses provided by Common Purpose. The RAF and the Royal Navy have not used programmes run by Common Purpose to train personnel.
Some individuals may have undertaken training with this company during their resettlement period on leaving the Services. The comprehensive leadership skills and qualifications attained in the Armed Forces means that such training is rarely considered necessary
Confirming this would require manually checking all service leavers’ Joint Personnel Administration records to identify, retrieve and collate the details. This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
No information is held centrally by the Home Office about external courses attended by individual police officers. Police training and development is a matter for the College of Policing and for police forces locally.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average compensation paid to the families of British servicemen killed by EOKA; whether the government of Greece has paid any compensation to those families; and what assessment they have made of the government of Greece’s support for EOKA.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The families of British Service personnel killed by EOKA will have received payments in accordance with the rules of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme and the War Pension Scheme in force at the time. This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. We are not aware that the government of Greece made any such payments to those families.
Her Majesty's Government’s focus is now upon a forward looking and positive relationship with an important partner for the UK in eastern Mediterranean security. The UK and Greece work closely together across a range of issues, including irregular migration and tackling organised immigration crime.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what basis they have paid £1 million in compensation to 33 former members of EOKA; on whose authority such a payment was made; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that compensation payment on the families of the British servicemen killed by EOKA.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, without admission of liability, have settled the claims in order to draw a line under this litigation, to avoid the further escalation of costs, which would ultimately be borne by the taxpayer, and focus on future relations with Cyprus. This course of action was authorised by Ministers in both Departments.
Her Majesty’s Government reaffirms its highest respect for the memory and sacrifice of British and Cypriot Service personnel and employees of the Crown who gave their lives, who lost family members or loved ones, or whose lives suffered permanent disruption as a result of the Emergency.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Astor of Hever on 2 December 2014 (HL3199) and 20 January 2015 (HL3958), whether, and to what extent, the change in the administration of the Wayne’s Keep service and their lack of representation at the Girne Remembrance Sunday services is the result of diplomatic concessions.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
There has been no change in the administration of the United Nations service of Remembrance at Wayne's Keep in Nicosia, which continues to be organised by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). As Wayne's Keep is located in the UN Buffer Zone, UNFICYP makes the arrangements so that relatives and guests can visit the cemetery. It remains a matter for UNFICYP to determine the guest list for the annual United Nations Remembrance Sunday Service. The British Government continues to commemorate all UK Service personnel killed in Cyprus at this event.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Astor of Hever on 2 December 2014 (HL3199) and 20 January (HL3958), why, and since when, they have transferred the administration of the Remembrance Sunday events at Wayne’s Keep in Cyprus to UNFICYP; why family members of those who died during the Cyprus Emergency were not invited, or their attendance facilitated; and why they do not support the accessible Memorial Service at the British Cemetery in Girne where family members and regimental representatives are able to be present.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
There has been no change in the administration of the United Nations service of Remembrance at Wayne's Keep in Nicosia, which continues to be organised by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). As Wayne's Keep is located in the UN Buffer Zone, UNFICYP makes the arrangements so that relatives and guests can visit the cemetery. It remains a matter for UNFICYP to determine the guest list for the annual United Nations Remembrance Sunday Service. The British Government continues to commemorate all UK Service personnel killed in Cyprus at this event.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 2 December 2014 (HL3199), who issued and on what authority the invitations to the 270 guests who attended the Armistice Sunday service at Wayne’s Keep; why relatives of the deceased were not invited and on whose authority that decision was made; and whether any representative of the Cyprus Government was invited and attended.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
The service held at Wayne's Keep on Remembrance Sunday was a United Nations service of Remembrance organised by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The guest list was determined by UNFICYP. The attendance list has not changed in several years and is designed around the invitation of UN Staff, the military and diplomatic community, and military charities in Cyprus, notably Greek and Turkish Cypriot veterans associations. The Ambassador to the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic in the Republic of Cyprus was invited, but was unable to attend.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who carried out the annual wreath-laying at Wayne’s Keep on the Cyprus Green Line on Armistice Sunday this year; how many attended the event; whether there was any religious element to the event; and how many relatives were invited and attended.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
The British High Commissioner laid a wreath on behalf of the British Government at the Armistice Sunday ceremony at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery at Wayne's Keep in Nicosia on 9 November 2014. Approximately 270 guests attended the service, which was led by three padres from the United Nations personnel based there. No relatives of the deceased were formally invited to the ceremony and we do not believe any attended the event.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any provision comparable to that made by the United States towards the creation and retention of a service dedicated to cyber warfare technology; and whether there is a services' cyber commander in post.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
The United Kingdom’s approach to military cyber operations recognises that the contemporary operating environment now requires commanders at every level to understand cyberspace. The Ministry of Defence is therefore mainstreaming cyber throughout the Department and the Armed Forces to ensure that every part of Defence sees cyberspace as part of their responsibilities. For those elements of Defence that are cyber specialists, the Chief of the Defence Staff has issued direction to the four star commander of the Joint Forces Command appointing him as the Joint Commander for the planning and conduct of Defence’s cyber operations. Responsibility is delegated through the Chief of Defence Intelligence to the Joint Forces Cyber Group, who plan and direct the activities of our Joint Cyber Units. The Senior Responsible Owner for the integration of Cyber across Defence is the two star Director of Cyber Intelligence and Information Integration.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend at any point to send a Minister to observe Armistice Day at the British Cyprus Memorial in Kyrenia; and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
There are currently no plans to do so. The British Government will continue to be represented by the High Commissioner at the annual ceremony at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery at Wayne’s Keep in Nicosia, where we commemorate all UK Service personnel killed in Cyprus.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many serving officers in the armed forces have attended Common Purpose courses during each year since 2010; and at what total cost for each year.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
Common Purpose has not been used by the RAF or the Royal Navy to train officers between 2010 and 2014. One Army Officer attended the Common Purpose CSC Leaders Global Leadership Programme in 2014, at a cost of £6,000.
Some individuals may have undertaken training with this company during their resettlement period. However, the comprehensive leadership skills and qualifications attained in the Armed Forces means that such training is rarely considered necessary.
Confirming this would require manually checking all service leavers’ Joint Personnel Administration records to identify, retrieve and collate the details. This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.