Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans to repeal the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Victims) Act 2021.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
We have no plans to repeal the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Act 2021.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to respond to the recommendations of the report entitled Strengthening UK Military Investigations into Civilian Harm, published by the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights on 26 November 2024.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I thank the hon. Member for raising this report with the Department.
Where the UK undertakes military action, it is conducted in full accordance with UK and international law.
Military action is meticulously planned in accordance with the recognised IHL principles of proportionality, military necessity, distinction and humanity, as well as in line with relevant policies such as the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict; Joint Service Publication 985 – Human Security in Defence. Great care is taken to minimise the risk of harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure, and this sits at the core of our approach.
Working level discussions are ongoing between Ministry of Defence officials, our allies, and civil society organisations to share and promote best practice on civilian harm mitigation.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Dutch Ministry of Defence on civilian harm mitigation and response.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Working level discussions have taken place between officials from the Ministry of Defence and Dutch Ministry of Defence on civilian harm mitigation and response. This has also included officials from the US Department of Defence as well as officials from Defence Ministries of other allies. The aim of these discussions is to advance engagement between allies on sharing and promoting best practice on civilian harm mitigation within respective Armed Forces.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to implement a mechanism to ensure that intelligence information shared with the Israeli government is used within the boundaries of international humanitarian law, and what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on ensuring that any information provided is used in compliance with international humanitarian law.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) mandate is narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the hostages only, including British nationals. Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities. The MOD has robust policies, practices and processes which are entirely consistent with our legal obligations under domestic and international law.
The Secretary of State for Defencec, and MOD officials, have regular discussions with their Israeli counterparts on the remaining hostages and other matters, including complying with International Humanitarian Law and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on ensuring that any information gathered by unarmed RAF surveillance flights over Gaza can be used solely in relation to locating Israeli hostages.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) mandate is narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the hostages only, including British nationals. Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities. The MOD has robust policies, practices and processes which are entirely consistent with our legal obligations under domestic and international law.
The Secretary of State for Defencec, and MOD officials, have regular discussions with their Israeli counterparts on the remaining hostages and other matters, including complying with International Humanitarian Law and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has established a process for the (a) assessment and (b) retention of evidence gathered by unarmed RAF surveillance flights over Gaza.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Our mandate is narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the hostages only. We are unable comment further on detailed intelligence matters for operational security reasons.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of applications to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy made under Category 4 since the scheme was established as of 14 December 2021 have been (a) considered eligible and (b) considered eligible and called forward to the airport and (c) considered eligible, called forward to the airport and resettled in the UK.
Answered by James Heappey
The ARAP Scheme has been one of the most generous in the world, under which over 99,000 applications have been received and circa.1,300 Locally Employed Staff (LES) have been relocated to the UK since April.
Those Afghans who were called forward to the Airport have had both their eligibility for ARAP confirmed and successfully undergone the Home Office visa process. However, there is not a separate Category 4 application process, all applicants must apply through the ARAP Scheme application form and a dedicated caseworker will confirm which category applies to the applicant upon deciding eligibility. As such, the information cannot be provided in the format requested.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of applications to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy received since that scheme was established had, as at 16 December 2021, received an individual follow up email to indicate that (a) they were eligible, (b) that their case was being further investigated to assess eligibility, (c) that they were not considered eligible to apply, (d) that their application was incomplete or (e) that it was a duplicate application which would not be further considered.
Answered by James Heappey
The ARAP Scheme has been one of the most generous in the world, under which circa.1,300 Locally Employed Staff (LES) have been relocated to the UK since April; and Casework continues seven days a week to process circa. 99,000 applications.
All applications receive an email confirming receipt; and further correspondence, including the issuing of an application reference number is triggered once the team begin initial triaging of an application. Where applications are found to be incomplete, applicants are contacted by caseworkers; however, this is an ongoing dialogue with applicants for which instances are not tracked. A large number of applications are sifted out at an early stage of the process, for example because they are duplicates or incomplete. Therefore, the Department does not keep records of every application that is ruled out.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of vacant positions there were at Capita Fire and Rescue as at 24 November 2021; and what comparative assessment he has made of how that vacancy rate compared with the level under his Department's Defence Fire and Rescue Service prior to the transfer of that contract.
Answered by Leo Docherty
Capita Fire and Rescue (CFR) provides suitably qualified personnel to meet the operational requirements at designated MOD sites. The MOD closely monitors CFR's ability to maintain operational outputs, but current vacancy levels at Capita is a matter for the company.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether all stations included in his Department's contract with Capita received (a) new firefighting vehicles, (b) PPE, (c) training facilities and (d) any other contractual delivery requirements prior to the reduction of staff at certain Capita stations.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The Minstry of Defence (MOD) closely monitors Capita’s delivery against its contractual obligations through a rigorous performance management regime; any changes to crewing levels follow a rigorous assessment of the fire risks at the site, and must be approved by the MOD.
All resilience staff working at HMNB Clyde have the appropriate clearance, but any agreements between Capita Fire and Rescue (CFR) and its sub-contractors on equipment or terms and conditions of employment are a matter for the company. The MOD continues to monitor the situation closely and will take any measures we think are necessary, while also providing CFR and their employees the space to resolve differences.