Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an estimate of the number of civilian casualties caused by United States airstrikes on Iran since 28 February 2026.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The agreement allowing the US to use UK military bases is for specific and limited defensive action against missile facilities in Iran which were involved in launching strikes at regional allies and ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times United States aircraft taking off from bases in the United Kingdom have conducted strikes on Iran since 28 February 2026.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations.
Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK operational support to allies and partners is considered in terms of legality.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times United States aircraft taking off from Diego Garcia have conducted strikes on Iran since 28 February 2026.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations.
Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK operational support to allies and partners is considered in terms of legality.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will review the 2020 military cooperation agreement with Israel in the context of that country’s role in the war on Iran since 28 February 2026.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
A UK-Israel military cooperation agreement, which incorporates a range of defence engagement activity, was signed in December 2020. Whilst the UK Ministry of Defence regularly reviews cooperation with Israel, the agreement remains extant.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether financial benefits accrue to the United Kingdom from the US War Department’s ownership of sites such as land and buildings in Britain.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The continued presence of United States (US) military forces in the UK forms an important part of the US’ on-going wider commitment to NATO and the security of Europe. The US Department of War (DoW) does not own military sites, military land, or military buildings in Britian and therefore there is no associated financial benefit.
In accordance with the 1973 Cost Sharing Arrangement, the US DoW is responsible for bearing the cost for the operational running of the bases it occupies such as utilities, as well as any development in support of its forces at those locations.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the sites the US War Department owns in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I can confirm the US War Department does not own any Defence sites in the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the local economic benefits to the United Kingdom of the United States military bases in Britain.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not formally evaluated the economic benefit to the UK of the United States Visiting Forces (USVF) and therefore a verified financial estimate is not available. The continued presence of United States military forces in the UK forms an important part of the United States’ on-going wider commitment to NATO and the security of Europe.
The influence a USVF base will have on the economic development of nearby communities will depend on its location, base size, operational tempo and local context. The presence of a USVF base in the community creates both direct and indirect employment, and opportunities for local businesses and landlords to make commercial arrangements with members of the visiting forces.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his Department's policy not to provide information on the number of United States military personnel present at each of its bases in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
There is no specific policy that requires this Government to withhold the number of United States personnel based within the UK, however as previously advised we are withholding this information in the interest of personal security. The number of United States personnel at United States Visiting Forces (USVF) sites was disclosed in 2024, however, we are in a new era of threat that remains more serious and less predictable.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which agreements between the United States and the United Kingdom govern the presence of US National Security Agency personnel in Britain.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The UK–US intelligence relationship is one of the closest in the world, built primarily on the longstanding UK-USA Agreement and our Five Eyes partnership, reinforced by our network of bilateral defence and security arrangements. Any details on US intelligence personnel are classified. It is government practice not to disclose any information regarding personnel working in intelligence roles to protect national security.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the work carried out at MOD Bicester; how many of his Department’s personnel are stationed there; and who owns the site.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Bicester site is owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) via the Defence Infrastructure Organisation. There are a number of different units and organisations located in Bicester performing a wide range of tasks and services, and as such there is no overall assessment of the effectiveness of the work carried out at Bicester. If the right hon. Member has an area of particular interest, I would be happy to provide further information.
There are currently 183 MOD civilian personnel and 725 trade trained Armed Forces personnel located at MOD Bicester.