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Written Question
NATO
Wednesday 29th June 2022

Asked by: Lord Selkirk of Douglas (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to honour the UK’s commitments to the NATO military alliance.

Answered by Baroness Goldie

The UK is stronger with its NATO Allies and our commitment to the Alliance is unwavering. We have committed our Continuous at Sea Nuclear Deterrent (CASD) to NATO for the past 50 years and we are contributing well-supported and highly equipped conventional fighting forces across all domains.

The UK remains the highest spending European Ally, meeting the NATO Defence Investment Pledge to spend at least 2% of GDP on Defence. We secured a generous £24 billion uplift in Spending Review 20, cementing our position as the second largest spender in NATO.

The UK contributes heavily to NATO deterrence activity, leading NATO's Forward Presence battlegroup in Estonia alongside Danish and French forces. We have also provided a Reconnaissance Squadron in Poland to support the US led battlegroup and are providing support to the NATO enhanced Air Policing mission.

At the NATO Summit in June, it is expected that NATO leaders will agree the new Strategic Concept. This will reaffirm our commitment to freedom, openness and the rules-based order. It must also ensure that the Alliance is fit for future challenges, including how to modernise and adapt to emerging threats, advanced technologies and improving national resilience.


Written Question
Eastern Europe: Diplomatic Relations
Monday 27th June 2022

Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department is taking to strengthen the UK’s (a) security and (b) economic relationship with (i) Latvia, (ii) Estonia and (iii) Lithuania.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

The UK has close security and economic relations with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Together we are deterring Russia, supporting Ukraine and deepening our economic ties, for example, in the technology and digital sectors. As recently as 06 June the PM met the Estonian PM and the Foreign Secretary regularly engages with her Baltic counterparts on these matters. We work closely in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) and in NATO.  The UK has now signed declarations of cooperation with each of the Baltic States which will strengthen our collaboration.


Written Question
Baltic States
Tuesday 21st June 2022

Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

What diplomatic steps her Department is taking to help strengthen the UK’s security and economic relationship with the Baltic states.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

The UK has close diplomatic, security and economic relations with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Together we are deterring Russia, supporting Ukraine and deepening our cooperation on defence and security. On 6 June the Prime Minister met the Estonian Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary regularly engages with her Baltic counterparts. In the last 18 months, we have signed declarations of cooperation with each of the Baltic States and will continue to strengthen our security and economic collaboration.


Written Question
Dogs: Imports
Monday 13th June 2022

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dogs were imported under the Balai Directive in each month of (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022 as of 6 June 2022; and from which countries those dogs originated.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

Since we left the EU, the EU import data for 2021 and 2022 was collated from the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s Post Import Management System (PIMS) and accounts for all imports into Great Britain that have been entered using IPAFFS (Import of products, animals, food and feed system).

For 2020, the data was extracted from TRACES NT through the data warehouse facility.

The information that we have provided is a true reflection of the information that we have access to. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data, as we can only rely on the information that has been input into IPAFFS and TRACES by traders.

From 14 April 2022 Great Britain temporarily suspended the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originated from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine, until 9 July 2022.

Please find data below.

2020 Numbers of Dogs imported under Balai Directive

Country of Origin

Jan

Feb

Mar

April

May

June

Austria

3

Belgium

1

1

Bulgaria

32

9

20

39

Croatia

13

17

2

9

32

Cyprus

286

271

185

61

229

348

Czechia

1

3

3

19

13

Denmark

1

England

Estonia

Finland

1

1

France

1

7

17

4

Germany

6

2

1

2

5

20

Greece

22

44

22

26

42

Hungary

259

241

138

113

318

435

Iceland

Italy

1

1

4

19

Latvia

Lithuania

1

1

1

Luxembourg

Malta

1

Netherlands

5

1

1

Northern Ireland

Norway

Poland

108

102

106

80

187

279

Portugal

3

9

1

20

Republic of Ireland

694

658

467

99

309

480

Romania

1944

1705

870

529

2585

2814

Scotland

Slovakia

3

3

2

Slovenia

2

1

Spain

440

324

155

32

491

646

Sweden

3

1

Switzerland

1

Wales

UK

Isle of Man

(blank)

Grand Total

3810

3391

1987

934

4190

5202

2020 Numbers of Dogs imported under Balai Directive

Country of Origin

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Austria

1

2

1

1

Belgium

2

3

6

Bulgaria

20

20

1

41

40

Croatia

3

14

18

8

6

31

Cyprus

575

266

595

492

414

524

Czechia

14

14

10

9

10

39

Denmark

1

England

Estonia

5

7

2

7

Finland

1

2

2

France

1

1

1

1

Germany

17

2

19

11

18

Greece

61

154

52

65

46

29

Hungary

542

395

588

649

717

670

Iceland

Italy

17

19

41

54

42

45

Latvia

1

2

2

Lithuania

2

1

3

8

42

40

Luxembourg

Malta

1

2

1

Netherlands

6

9

4

12

Northern Ireland

Norway

Poland

349

314

514

527

678

700

Portugal

44

45

63

50

74

34

Republic of Ireland

461

449

640

572

508

477

Romania

3427

3166

3454

3854

3587

4590

Scotland

Slovakia

11

14

15

24

17

17

Slovenia

1

1

Spain

752

407

810

682

716

1020

Sweden

1

9

1

Switzerland

Wales

UK

Isle of Man

(blank)

Grand Total

6309

5272

6826

7031

6944

8293

2021 Numbers of Dogs imported under Balai Directive

Country of Origin

Jan

Feb

Mar

April

May

June

Austria

14

4

Belgium

19

7

8

8

8

5

Bulgaria

35

65

113

74

116

131

Croatia

27

125

118

207

196

Cyprus

143

485

323

384

205

415

Czechia

14

14

19

17

20

Denmark

12

1

184

England

1

6

4

6

7

Estonia

16

5

Finland

1

2

1

France

6

58

40

48

17

111

Germany

2

4

4

11

17

Greece

13

31

24

116

164

79

Hungary

35

234

865

621

582

358

Iceland

1

Italy

4

29

35

26

9

33

Latvia

36

25

66

61

45

Lithuania

28

35

75

62

32

28

Luxembourg

Malta

1

Netherlands

9

4

2

5

6

3

Northern Ireland

2

Norway

1

Poland

131

318

564

587

688

566

Portugal

1

34

69

59

43

78

Republic of Ireland

96

529

717

560

654

640

Romania

558

3609

4220

4788

3696

3199

Scotland

1

Slovakia

5

32

39

27

17

22

Slovenia

1

3

1

Spain

117

269

637

702

573

590

Sweden

5

2

1

1

1

Switzerland

1

2

1

Wales

1

UK

Isle of Man

(blank)

1

Grand Total

1201

5832

7937

8305

7125

6724

2021 Numbers of Dogs imported under Balai Directive

Country of Origin

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Austria

2

1

1

Belgium

7

6

5

3

2

Bulgaria

96

44

157

110

86

66

Croatia

282

223

132

254

246

193

Cyprus

297

396

345

325

165

275

Czechia

22

18

25

22

20

30

Denmark

58

210

43

94

117

England

20

3

8

7

9

1

Estonia

1

1

Finland

1

1

1

1

France

38

26

16

12

32

7

Germany

7

9

8

5

5

4

Greece

110

98

124

110

88

60

Hungary

322

223

402

302

277

296

Iceland

Italy

35

29

35

17

36

8

Latvia

43

28

57

55

69

27

Lithuania

81

71

82

77

55

52

Luxembourg

2

Malta

2

Netherlands

4

34

23

28

16

18

Northern Ireland

Norway

1

1

Poland

480

486

543

492

405

333

Portugal

53

22

42

46

28

25

Republic of Ireland

557

620

651

557

633

444

Romania

3328

2871

3108

3452

2825

2427

Scotland

Slovakia

23

21

32

22

33

18

Slovenia

1

1

Spain

729

316

539

490

539

408

Sweden

2

1

33

1

2

Switzerland

1

2

1

Wales

UK

Isle of Man

(blank)

Grand Total

6538

5610

6548

6463

5667

4816

2022 Numbers of Dogs imported under Balai Directive

Country of Origin

Jan

Feb

Mar

April

May

1/6/22 to 6/6/22

Austria

3

2

Belgium

10

4

5

3

Bulgaria

79

40

95

115

244

57

Croatia

145

190

358

248

239

Cyprus

335

282

275

77

253

11

Czechia

14

11

10

18

23

Denmark

1

19

67

97

32

England

1

2

7

3

Estonia

4

8

Finland

1

1

1

France

16

18

16

2

3

Germany

22

21

7

11

15

4

Greece

54

48

33

29

20

1

Hungary

164

253

224

226

271

33

Iceland

Italy

7

44

32

35

18

Latvia

56

32

54

41

38

2

Lithuania

36

63

52

31

28

9

Luxembourg

1

Malta

Netherlands

24

17

12

9

4

1

Northern Ireland

1

12

Norway

3

2

Poland

320

339

334

175

46

2

Portugal

30

36

30

24

43

9

Republic of Ireland

635

670

632

534

622

65

Romania

2529

2365

2531

1181

38

13

Scotland

Slovakia

17

13

12

17

14

1

Slovenia

1

Spain

480

529

448

415

352

65

Sweden

2

3

1

1

Switzerland

1

1

Wales

UK

1

2

Isle of Man

2

(blank)

Grand Total

4983

4999

5236

3304

2331

273


Written Question
Armed Forces: Deployment
Thursday 9th June 2022

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department's personnel are deployed around the world; and in which locations those people are stationed.

Answered by James Heappey

The following table details the number of personnel deployed overseas on operations and their location. The numbers change depending on operational requirements, but are accurate at the time of answering the hon. Member's question.

Location

Number of UK military deployed

Number of civilians deployed

Total number of military and civilians deployed

Egypt

2

0

2

HMS Montrose

180

2

182

HMS Penzance

41

0

41

HMS Chiddingfold

45

0

45

RFACardigan Bay

0

0

0

HMS Middleton

45

0

45

HMS Bangor

36

0

36

HMS Trent

61

0

61

HMS Spey

46

0

46

HMS Tamar

75

0

75

AbuDhabi (British Embassy)

1

0

1

Bahrain

188

2

190

Cyprus

214

6

220

Oman

18

0

18

Qatar

132

0

132

UAE

110

0

110

USA

23

1

24

Baghdad(British Embassy)

1

0

1

Iraq

189

3

192

Jordan

12

0

12

Kuwait

51

3

54

TelAviv(British Embassy)

1

0

1

Saudi Arabia

24

0

Azerbaijan

0

0

0

Pakistan(British High Commission)

3

0

3

Pakistan

1

0

1

Gibraltar

3

0

3

Mali

464

5

469

Democratic Republic of Congo

1

0

1

Kenya

10

0

10

Somalia

69

0

69

Djibouti

5

0

5

Tunisia(British Embassy)

1

0

1

Chad

3

0

3

Nigeria

27

0

27

South Sudan

3

0

3

Estonia

1,372

14

1,386

Germany

81

2

83

Latvia

2

0

2

Lithuania

89

0

89

Poland

414

3

417

Bosnia

2

0

2

Kosovo

41

0

41

Ukraine

97

0

97

Romania

197

1

198

Bulgaria

2

0

2

North Macedonia

2

0

2

Slovakia

43

0

43

Finland

1

0

1

Sweden

2

0

2

Japan

1

0

1

Indonesia

8

0

8

Kuala Lumpur

1

0

1

Lebanon (British Embassy)

7

0

7

Ghana

25

0

25


Written Question
Dogs: Imports
Tuesday 31st May 2022

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dogs were imported under the Balai Directive in each month of (a) 2021 and (b) 2022 to date; and from which country did these dogs originate.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

Since we left the EU, the EU import data was collated from the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) Post Import Management System and accounts for all Imports that have been entered using IPAFFS (Import of products, animals, food and feed system).

The information that we have provided is a true reflection of the information that we have access to. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data, as we can only rely on the information that has been input into IPAFFS by traders.

APHA only holds data on GB imports.

From 14 April 2022 Great Britain temporarily suspended the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originated from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine, until 9 July 2022.

Please find data below.

2021 Numbers of Dogs imported under Balai Directive

Country of Origin

Jan

Feb

Mar

April

May

June

Austria

14

4

Belgium

19

7

8

8

8

5

Bulgaria

35

65

113

74

116

131

Croatia

27

125

118

207

196

Cyprus

143

485

323

384

205

415

Czechia

14

14

19

17

20

Denmark

12

1

184

England

1

6

4

6

7

Estonia

16

5

Finland

1

2

1

France

6

58

40

48

17

111

Germany

2

4

4

11

17

Greece

13

31

24

116

164

79

Hungary

35

234

865

621

582

358

Iceland

1

Italy

4

29

35

26

9

33

Latvia

36

25

66

61

45

Lithuania

28

35

75

62

32

28

Luxembourg

Malta

1

Netherlands

9

4

2

5

6

3

Northern Ireland

2

Norway

1

Poland

131

318

564

587

688

566

Portugal

1

34

69

59

43

78

Republic of Ireland

96

529

717

560

654

640

Romania

558

3609

4220

4788

3696

3199

Scotland

1

Slovakia

5

32

39

27

17

22

Slovenia

1

3

1

Spain

117

269

637

702

573

590

Sweden

5

2

1

1

1

Switzerland

1

2

1

Wales

1

UK

Isle of Man

(blank)

1

Grand Total

1201

5832

7937

8305

7125

6724

2021 Numbers of Dogs imported under Balai Directive

Country of Origin

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Austria

2

1

1

Belgium

7

6

5

3

2

Bulgaria

96

44

157

110

86

66

Croatia

282

223

132

254

246

193

Cyprus

297

396

345

325

165

275

Czechia

22

18

25

22

20

30

Denmark

58

210

43

94

117

England

20

3

8

7

9

1

Estonia

1

1

Finland

1

1

1

1

France

38

26

16

12

32

7

Germany

7

9

8

5

5

4

Greece

110

98

124

110

88

60

Hungary

322

223

402

302

277

296

Iceland

Italy

35

29

35

17

36

8

Latvia

43

28

57

55

69

27

Lithuania

81

71

82

77

55

52

Luxembourg

2

Malta

2

Netherlands

4

34

23

28

16

18

Northern Ireland

Norway

1

1

Poland

480

486

543

492

405

333

Portugal

53

22

42

46

28

25

Republic of Ireland

557

620

651

557

633

444

Romania

3328

2871

3108

3452

2825

2427

Scotland

Slovakia

23

21

32

22

33

18

Slovenia

1

1

Spain

729

316

539

490

539

408

Sweden

2

1

33

1

2

Switzerland

1

2

1

Wales

UK

Isle of Man

(blank)

Grand Total

6538

5610

6548

6463

5667

4816

2022 Numbers of Dogs imported under Balai Directive

Country of Origin

Jan

Feb

Mar

April

1/5/22 to 23/05/22

Austria

3

2

Belgium

10

4

5

2

Bulgaria

79

40

95

115

115

Croatia

145

190

358

248

Cyprus

335

282

275

77

231

Czechia

14

11

10

18

16

Denmark

1

19

67

97

England

1

2

7

3

Estonia

4

7

Finland

1

1

1

France

16

18

16

2

1

Germany

22

21

7

11

3

Greece

54

48

33

29

16

Hungary

164

253

224

226

193

Iceland

Italy

7

44

32

35

22

Latvia

56

32

54

41

8

Lithuania

36

63

52

31

26

Luxembourg

1

Malta

Netherlands

24

17

12

9

Northern Ireland

1

Norway

3

2

Poland

320

339

334

175

42

Portugal

30

36

30

24

39

Republic of Ireland

635

670

632

534

493

Romania

2529

2365

2531

1181

18

Scotland

Slovakia

17

13

12

17

9

Slovenia

Spain

480

529

448

415

344

Sweden

2

3

1

1

Switzerland

1

1

Wales

UK

1

2

Isle of Man

2

(blank)

Grand Total

4983

4999

5236

3304

1589


Written Question
Russia: Ukraine
Tuesday 17th May 2022

Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the UK's ability to support its logistics chain in relation to its Enhanced Forward Presence in (a) Poland and (b) Estonia.

Answered by James Heappey

As framework nation of NATO's enhanced forward presence in Estonia, the UK has successfully maintained two battlegroups in country since early March, increasing our previous presence in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Throughout this period our logistics chain has supported circa 1,800 personnel in Estonia and 250 in Poland (130 in support of the US-led Enhanced Forward Presence) alongside tanks and armoured fighting vehicles. To support this increase in personnel we have doubled our resupply deliveries when required, demonstrating our continued ability to successfully support the logistics chain for UK Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP).

Over the five years we have been the framework nation, the logistic support function has overseen the deployment of 10 battlegroups and successfully carried out approximately10 Strategic Sealifts, and circa 80 flights in support of Strategic Airlifts. My assessment is that the logistics chain will continue to allow UK deployments in support of Allies in Estonia and Poland.


Written Question
Ukraine: Armed Conflict
Wednesday 27th April 2022

Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to (a) increase security, (b) help prevent Russian interference and (c) support refugees in (i) Moldova and (ii) other neighbouring countries that share a border with an active war zone.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

The UK has worked closely with partners in the region to increase regional security, support refugees and prevent Russian interference.

We are supporting defence sector reform in Moldova, including through the NATO Defence Capacity Building Initiative. The UK is doubling the number of defence personnel in Estonia and sending additional military equipment. The Prime Minister also agreed with his Polish counterpart a programme to ensure our current cooperation on European security is broadened and strengthened for the years and decades to come.

On 26 March, the UK announced £25 million in funding to the UN Refugee Agency and £10 million to the International Federation of the Red Cross to support countries neighbouring Ukraine to receive and care for refugees. Our humanitarian field teams in the region provide logistical support and advice and coordinate with governments and the UN in neighbouring countries. UK support will reach over 140,000 refugees in the region, providing protection, shelter and cash for the most vulnerable groups and for people with specific needs.


Written Question
Baltic States: Military Aid
Tuesday 12th April 2022

Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial provision they are making for the financial year 2022–23 to give military assistance to the Baltic states; and how, within NATO, are (1) they, (2) the government of the USA, and (3) the government of Canada, allocating any additional responsibilities.

Answered by Baroness Goldie

The UK enjoys close military relationships with the Baltic states. We work together both bilaterally and through various multilateral fora, including through NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). The UK trains and exercises routinely across the Baltic sea region. We are also the framework nation for the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup in Estonia.

The UK does not disclose live operational financial information. We discuss European Defence and security regularly with NATO Allies including the US and Canada, but cannot comment on how they allocate responsibilities within NATO. SACEUR has not requested any further NATO support or reinforcement to the region, but the UK stands ready to respond to future requests from NATO.


Written Question
NATO: Armed Forces
Friday 1st April 2022

Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the number of British troops deployed as part of the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence.

Answered by James Heappey

In order to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence posture, increase interoperability with our Allies, and reinforce our bilateral relationships, the UK has played a leading role in NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) since its inception, acting as framework nation in Estonia, and contributing to the US-led deployment in Poland. As part of the UK's multi-domain and coordinated response to Russia's unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine, the Prime Minister announced last month that, alongside other deployments in support of Allies, the UK would temporarily double its presence in Estonia to brigade strength. The Ministry of Defence keeps the UK's defence posture under constant review.