Oral Answers to Questions

Stuart Andrew Excerpts

Monday 19th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Brazier]

I welcome the hon. Lady to her place as shadow Minister and thank her for the support for cadet units. I am delighted to give her the assurance she seeks. The new units will be set up in areas where there is no existing community provision. They will not be in competition with existing successful community units.

[Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con)]

2. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK contribution to international efforts to degrade and defeat ISIL.

[Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab)]

3. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK's efforts to degrade and defeat ISIL.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon)]

The UK is making a significant contribution to the coalition of more than 60 countries, supporting the Iraqi security forces to deny ISIL the freedom to operate in 30% of the Iraqi territory it once held, helping Syrian Kurds take 17,000 sq km from ISIL in Syria, and degrading ISIL’s ability to refine oil or to access the international financial system.

[Stuart Andrew]

I am grateful for that answer. It has been truly horrifying to see the atrocities being committed by Daesh in Iraq. Can my right hon. Friend tell the House what difference the British training to counter explosive devices will make to the Iraqi security forces’ ability to recapture territory?

[Michael Fallon]

The UK military is focusing its efforts on areas where we can bring particular expertise and I am pleased to announce today that the new courses of counter-IED training for Iraqi ground forces are starting this week following the Prime Minister’s pledge in the summer that we would increase the number of personnel assisting the Iraqi Government’s counter-ISIL efforts. These 54 personnel, drawn mainly from 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) from Saffron Walden, are delivering life-saving counter-IED instruction to members of the Iraqi security forces at training centres in Bismayah and Taji.