Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kenny MacAskill and Leo Docherty

Monday 20th May 2024 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

Yes, we are.

[Kenny MacAskill (East Lothian) (Alba)]

5. Whether he plans to review the UK and Israel military co-operation agreement 2020.

[The Minister for Armed Forces (Leo Docherty)]

An agreement for UK-Israel military co-operation was signed in December 2020. There are no current plans for the agreement to be updated, but we continually review it to ensure that it remains relevant.

[Kenny MacAskill]

The rector of Glasgow University, who is an eminent Palestinian surgeon, has been narrating the horrors of the requirement to operate, and even perform amputations, on children—often without morphine—in Gaza. He has also detailed the horrors of the use of white phosphorus munitions. White phosphorus ignites during surgery when exposed to the atmosphere and requires dousing, including during complicated operations. Why are we in a military pact with military forces that carry out such actions? If the Minister will not repudiate the pact entirely, will he ensure that the use of white phosphorus munitions in our name is not acceptable?

[Leo Docherty]

Of course it is not. We have no role in that, and we see no evidence of the prospect of that being used. We should focus on our confidence that Israel is an important ally, which means that we can make the point that the protection of civilians is of the utmost importance. We should also remember that at the heart of this conflict is the fact that if peace is to be achieved, Hamas need to lay down their arms and release the hostages.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kenny MacAskill and Leo Docherty

Tuesday 12th December 2023 Commons Chamber

[Kenny MacAskill (East Lothian) (Alba)]

T9. It is not just citizens of the United Kingdom but the Government of Cyprus who are being denied information as to what the US military may be flying from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to Israel. Is that not something that they should know about, given the risks, and is it not something that we should know about, given the complicity?

[Leo Docherty]

When it comes to Cyprus we have been working closely with our allies attending to the need for security, which may pertain to the release of hostages, so I think this is entirely a good thing.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kenny MacAskill and Leo Docherty

Tuesday 18th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

No.

[Kenny MacAskill (East Lothian) (Alba)]

10. Whether his Department has received recent representations on the adequacy of the United Nations convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.