Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans his Department has to extend the existing UK sanctions on 25 individuals to others within the command structure of the Tatmadaw.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK, in conjunction with partners including the US and Canada, have announced targeted sanctions against nine high-ranking military officials for their role in serious human rights violations during the coup. We are actively consulting with partners on further measures, including additional sanctions. We are determined to impose a cost on the Myanmar military and we will consider all tools at our disposal. These sanctions follow the 16 individuals from the Myanmar military who were previously listed by the UK for human rights violations.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the legitimacy of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in Myanmar.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), which is composed of many individuals who were elected in November 2020, are an important voice for many in Myanmar. We coordinated with them to read out excerpts from their statements at the Special Session of the Human Rights Council on 12 February, and at the UN General Assembly meeting on 26 February.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with countries that have not imposed sanctions on Myanmar on imposing sanctions on that country.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We believe sanctions are an important tool to increase pressure on the Myanmar military and we are working closely with partners to coordinate on further sanctions.
The UK, in conjunction with partners including the US and Canada, has announced targeted sanctions against nine high-ranking military officials and we continue to work in concert with our partners and allies on additional measures, including further sanctions.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the UK government plans to take in relation to the needs of the 322 Myanmar university students who were arrested and imprisoned in Tamwe, Yangon.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK is clear that people's rights to freedom of expression and to protest must be respected. We have called on the military regime to release all those who have been detained arbitrarily and to respect the right to freedom of assembly. It is unacceptable that so many people have been detained, injured or killed in the struggle for democracy. The UK has already imposed sanctions on nine individuals for their role in serious human rights violations, including violating the right to liberty and security. We are determined to impose a cost on the Myanmar military and we are working with partners to ensure a strong and coordinated response, using all tools at our disposal.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the hourly cost is of an RAF Chinook flying on Operation Newcombe; and what the cost of repairing those aircraft has been since July 2018.
Answered by James Heappey
The cost of flying hours and repairs for Operation Newcombe are not held separately from overall RAF Chinook costs. Equipment repair costs in theatre are about £2.5 million per annum. Fuel and other related flying costs (e.g. consumables and stock used in theatre) for the hours flown are about £10.8 million per annum.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British personnel on Operation Newcombe sustained injuries from (a) enemy and (b) friendly action.
Answered by James Heappey
No injuries have been sustained by UK Service personnel on Operation Newcombe from either enemy or friendly action.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) RAF Weapon Systems Operators Rotary Wing personnel and (b) RAF Regiment Gunners are deployed in Mali on Operation Newcombe; and what their rules of engagement are.
Answered by James Heappey
There are currently eight RAF Weapon Systems Operators Rotary Wing personnel deployed in Mali on Operation Newcombe. There are no RAF Regiment Gunners deployed in Mali on Operation Newcombe.
It is a long standing convention for the Department to not publish Rules of Engagement in detail. I can reassure the right hon. Member that the Rules of Engagement issued for Op Newcombe, that have been authorised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary State for Defence, are proportionate and appropriate for the role that our forces are undertaking in Mali and that at all times deployed forces in Mali and elsewhere in the world retain their inherent right to self-defence.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether RAF Chinook aircraft deployed on Operation Newcombe have been hit by ground fire.
Answered by James Heappey
No RAF Chinook aircraft deployed on Operation Newcombe have been hit by ground fire.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether UK personnel deployed on Operation Newcombe have fired on enemy positions in Mali.
Answered by James Heappey
UK personnel deployed on Operation Newcombe have not fired upon enemy positions in Mali.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether RAF Chinook helicopters deployed in Mali have transported captured enemy personnel in that country.
Answered by James Heappey
RAF Chinook helicopters have not been involved in transporting captured enemy personnel in Mali.