Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has withheld any Royal Air Force surveillance information from the Israeli government in the last two years.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Since early December 2023, the Ministry of Defence have conducted unarmed surveillance flights over Gaza for the sole purpose of locating hostages. Only information related to hostage rescue can be passed to the relevant authority, and is only passed if we are satisfied it will be used in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56822 on Israel: Military Aid, what assessment he has made of the potential risk of members of the UK armed forces training the IDF personnel.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Fewer than five IDF personnel are currently enrolled in non-combat military academic courses in the UK.
The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. The Ministry of Defence’s provision of such assistance is assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis.
UK training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy and compliance with international humanitarian law.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June to Question 56822 on Israel: Military Aid, whether it is his policy to take UK International Humanitarian Law assessments into account when offering Israeli defense forces personnel training courses in the UK.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Fewer than five IDF personnel are currently enrolled in non-combat military academic courses in the UK.
The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. The Ministry of Defence’s provision of such assistance is assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis.
UK training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy and compliance with international humanitarian law.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there are any contractual requirements that would prevent the UK from withdrawing from the F35 global spare parts pool.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK Government does not have a contract with the F-35 global spares pool. The prime contractors for the F-35 programme, [the US companies Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney,] operate the F-35 global spares pool on behalf of the F35 programme, including the destination of specific spares and components.
The F-35 programme is a highly integrated programme, with the principle of cooperation lying at its heart.
If the UK Government were to withdraw from the F-35 global spares pool, it would effectively be withdrawing from the F-35 programme meaning that the UK would not be able to operate its F-35 fleet of aircraft.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the length is of the UK's contract with the F35 global spare parts pool; and when that contract ends.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK Government does not have a contract with the F-35 global spares pool. The prime contractors for the F-35 programme, [the US companies Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney,] operate the F-35 global spares pool on behalf of the F35 programme, including the destination of specific spares and components.
The F-35 programme is a highly integrated programme, with the principle of cooperation lying at its heart.
If the UK Government were to withdraw from the F-35 global spares pool, it would effectively be withdrawing from the F-35 programme meaning that the UK would not be able to operate its F-35 fleet of aircraft.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has considered providing a sea route for humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) leads on coordinating the HMG’s humanitarian response to deliver lifesaving assistance to the civilian population in Gaza.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has provided military support when needed to facilitate the delivery of lifesaving assistance, including through providing support to the Cypriot Maritime Aid Corridor and the US’ temporary pier initiative in 2024.
We continue to monitor the situation and consider what further assistance Defence could contribute to the HMG and international efforts.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the last time was that a member of the Israel Defense Forces was trained by the UK armed forces.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
As part of routine Defence engagement with Israel, the UK is currently training a limited number of Israel Defense Forces personnel on UK-based training courses.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the last time was that his Department provided the (a) Israeli government and (b) Israel Defense Forces with surveillance data of Gaza from Royal Air Force planes.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to Questions 56819 and 56820. I hope she will understand that I am unable to comment on detailed intelligence matters.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with his international counterparts on the potential merits of (a) withdrawing from the F35 global spare parts pool and (b) continuing to sell components to countries within that pool other than Israel.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Conversations with F-35 Partners occur regularly and cover a range of issues; however, I am unable to disclose details of confidential conversations held within an international programme.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with his international counterparts in the F35 global spare parts pool on the potential merits of (a) removing Israel from the pool and (b) introducing a carve out for UK parts not to be sent to Israel.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Conversations with F-35 Partners occur regularly and cover a range of issues; however, I am unable to disclose details of confidential conversations held within an international programme.