Oral Answers to Questions

Dan Jarvis Excerpts

Monday 12th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab)]

5. What discussions he has had with the incoming US Administration on their policy on article 5 of the NATO treaty.

[Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab)]

8. What discussions he has had with the incoming US Administration on their role in NATO.

[Mr George Howarth (Knowsley) (Lab)]

9. What discussions he has had with the incoming US Administration on their role in NATO.

--- Later in debate ---

[Sir Michael Fallon]

I shall be hosting the counter-Daesh coalition ministerial meeting in London on Thursday. I have seen nothing from the incoming Administration’s plans to indicate that they would take any different approach. The United States is leading the coalition work against Daesh. Considerable progress is being made in Iraq and starting to be made in Syria. NATO, too, now has a contribution to make to that.

[Dan Jarvis]

Given the precision airdrop capability of the US and NATO, what conversations has the Secretary of State had with the incoming US Administration and with other allies on the feasibility of using this specific capability to alleviate the suffering in Aleppo?

[Sir Michael Fallon]

We have continually examined options for getting aid into Aleppo, where people are now in the most appalling situation. It is almost impossible to get food or medicines in by airdrop, when the air defences are controlled by Russia and the Syrian regime and permissions are not forthcoming. We have looked at other options, such as using the airfield—but it is outside the control of the moderate opposition—and militarised convoys. We will continue to look at all kinds of options, but it is already very, very late for the people of eastern Aleppo.