Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of defections from Malian security forces to insurgent groups.

We continue to keep the security situation under regular review, including monitoring the risk to life to our forces from a range of threats. The role of the UK Armed Forces in Mali as part of the UN Mission is to protect civilians and build long-term peace and stability in Mali.