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Written Question
Saudi Arabia: Military Aid
Monday 21st September 2020

Asked by: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour (Co-op) - Brighton, Kemptown)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when Royal Saudi Air Force Typhoon pilots last undertook training in air-to-ground attacks in the UK where that training took place; and what munitions those pilots fired.

Answered by James Heappey

Royal Saudi Air Force Typhoon pilots only undertake air to ground training in a simulator and through a classroom brief; therefore, no munitions have been fired.


Written Question
Saudi Arabia: Military Aid
Friday 18th September 2020

Asked by: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour (Co-op) - Brighton, Kemptown)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Saudi Arabian pilots trained in the UK have undertaken missions for the Royal Saudi Air Force in the war in Yemen.

Answered by James Heappey

The utilisation of trained Royal Saudi Air Force aircrew is not monitored by or otherwise confirmed to the UK.


Written Question
Saudi Arabia: Military Aid
Tuesday 28th July 2020

Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK military (a) personnel and (b) advisers are operating in targeting centres in Saudi Arabia.

Answered by James Heappey

We have a very small number of liaison officers in Saudi Armed Forces headquarters. The role of the liaison officers is to provide the UK with greater insight into Saudi processes and operations. All UK military personnel in Saudi Arabia remain under UK command and control. More specifically, as my predecessor said in his reply to Question 228123, our liaison officers working in the Saudi Air Operations Centre observe Saudi-led coalition air operations in Yemen to help the UK support Saudi compliance with International.


Written Question
Saudi Arabia: Military Aid
Thursday 9th July 2020

Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the (a) dates on which the 90 Saudi military personnel received Typhoon training at RAF Coningsby in 2019, (b) course curriculum and (c) ranks and roles of those military personnel who received that training.

Answered by James Heappey

Please see table below for the various dates and courses on which Saudi military personnel received Typhoon training at RAF Coningsby. It should be noted that the 90 personnel did not all attend the same courses.

Course Name

Start Date

Finish Date

Typhoon OPCON

November 2018

May 2019

Typhoon OPCON

March 2019

August 2019

Typhoon OPCON

September 2019

March 2020

Typhoon Maintenance Consolidation Training

January 2019

July 2019

Typhoon Maintenance Consolidation Training

July 2019

December 2019

The roles of personnel being trained is a matter for the Royal Saudi Air Force. Therefore, we do not hold information relating to specific roles. However, the courses are attended by technicians and aircrew.

I am withholding the information relating to course curriculum as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice both commercial interests and international relations between the United Kingdom and another State.

Additionally, I am withholding the ranks of the personnel under our obligations in relation to the protection of confidentiality when handling a small data set.


Written Question
Saudi Arabia: Military Aid
Thursday 9th July 2020

Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the (a) dates on which the 180 Saudi military personnel attended training at the Defence College of Technical Training at RAF Cosford in 2019, (b) course curriculum and (c) ranks and roles of those military personnel who received that training.

Answered by James Heappey

Please see the table below for the various dates and courses on which Saudi military personnel received training at the Defence College of Technical Training at RAF Cosford. It should be noted that the 180 personnel did not all attend the same courses.

Course Name

Start Date

Finish Date

Aircraft Mechanical Technician Course Mechanics (M20)

November 2017

January 2019

Aircraft Mechanical Technician Course Mechanics (M21)

December 2017

February 2019

Weapons Technician Course (W13)

October 2017

February 2019

Avionics Technician Course (AV19)

January 2018

March 2019

Aircraft Mechanical Technician Course Mechanics (M22)

March 2018

April 2019

Weapons Technician Course (W14)

February 2018

May 2019

Aircraft Mechanical Technician Course Mechanics (M23)

May 2018

July 2019

Aircraft Mechanical Technician Course Mechanics (M24)

August 2018

August 2019

Avionics Technician Course (AV20)

October 2018

September 2019

Avionics Technician Course (AV21)

December 2018

November 2019

Weapons Technician Course (W15)

August 2018

December 2019

Aircraft Mechanical Technician Course Mechanics (M25)

May 2019

August 2020

Engineer Officer Foundation Course (56)

January 2019

July 2019

Engineer Officer Foundation Course (57)

March 2019

October 2019

The roles of personnel being trained is a matter for the Royal Saudi Air Force. Therefore, we do not hold information relating to specific roles. However, the courses are attended by technicians.

I am withholding the information relating to course curriculum as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice both commercial interests and international relations between the United Kingdom and another State.

Additionally, I am withholding the ranks of the personnel under our obligations in relation to the protection of confidentiality when handling a small data set.


Written Question
Saudi Arabia: Military Aid
Wednesday 1st July 2020

Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Saudi pilots have been trained at RAF bases in the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Answered by James Heappey

The number of Saudi pilots who have started a training course or programme in each of the last 10 years is detailed in the table below. It should be noted that as some of the programmes can last up to four years there are currently pilots still in training.

Year

Number of Saudi Pilots starting training in UK

2010

3

2011

4

2012

0

2013

24

2014

24

2015

16

2016

23

2017

10

2018

0

2019

0

2020

0


Written Question
Saudi Arabia: Military Aid
Monday 4th November 2019

Asked by: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour (Co-op) - Brighton, Kemptown)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the British Military Mission to the Saudi Arabian National Guard advises the latter on operations related to the conflict in Yemen.

Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

The British Military Mission to Saudi Arabia do not advise the Saudi National Guard on operations in Yemen.


Written Question
Saudi Arabia: Military Aid
Monday 4th November 2019

Asked by: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour (Co-op) - Brighton, Kemptown)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the internal security training provided by the British military mission to the Saudi Arabian National Guard comprises; and whether riot control is included in that training.

Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

The British Military Mission provides a variety of training to the Saudi Arabian National Guard, including occasional internal security training which includes a public order element.

The British Military Mission provides training in appropriate and proportionate use of force, the rules of engagement, human rights compliance and de-escalation procedures in line with the principles of Her Majesty's Government's Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessment.


Written Question
Saudi Arabia: Military Aid
Monday 4th November 2019

Asked by: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour (Co-op) - Brighton, Kemptown)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the agreement between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia governing the British Military Mission to the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

The 1964 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia governs the British Military Mission to the Saudi Arabian National Guard. This is a confidential agreement between two sovereign states which the United Kingdom Government is unable to publish without the permission of Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are not prepared to authorise the publication of bilateral MOUs.


Written Question
Saudi Arabia: Military Aid
Monday 21st October 2019

Asked by: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour (Co-op) - Brighton, Kemptown)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to fulfil the commitment to provide military assistance to Saudi Arabia made in the Written Statement of 23 May 2019, Official Report HCWS716.

Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 April 2019 to Question 237783.