Asked by: Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to the government of Israel regarding reports of Hamas smuggling weapons and explosive materials across the Gaza border.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is resolute in its commitment to Israel's security. Our position on Hamas is clear: we condemn Hamas' attacks against civilians which are unacceptable and unjustifiable. We unequivocally condemn the use and possession of indiscriminate weapons by militant groups in Gaza. Hamas and other terrorist groups must cease their campaign of violence, for which there is no justification. Such activity compromises the region's security, its ability to prosper and escalates already high tensions, with consequences for the international community. Hamas must renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept previously signed agreements. In the 2030 Roadmap for UK-Israel bilateral relations, signed by the Foreign Secretary and his Israeli counterpart earlier this year, the governments of the UK and Israel have stated that we will continue to work together to keep our people safe from cyber, criminal and terrorist threats.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he will take to support accountability over allegations of (a) the killing of child non-combatants during operations against jihadist armed groups by Nigerian armed forces and (b) coerced abortions by Nigerian armed forces; and whether the Government has supplied (i) training, (ii) equipment and (iii) other forms of support to units of the Nigerian armed forces which have been the subject of recent allegations relating to the killing of child non-combatants.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
As I set out in the House on Tuesday 13 December, keeping a close eye on these reports. We have raised the matter with the Nigerian Government and welcome calls from the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff to launch an independent investigation by the National Human Rights Commission.
UK armed forces conduct counter-insurgency training in Nigeria covering a range of matters such as infantry skills, human rights and combatting the threat of improvised explosive devices in order to help Nigeria counter shared threats, such as terrorism and serious organised crime. This has included support to Nigerian military units that are deployed in the North East.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made for the implications of his policies of reports that the Islamic revolutionary guard corps launched an explosive drone at an oil tanker off the coast of Oman.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK condemns the recent drone attack on MV PACIFIC ZIRCON. We remain committed to assuring the safety of shipping in the Middle East region, including through the Gulf of Oman. The UK is a member of the International Maritime Security Construct, along with several Gulf partners, which addresses the threat in the region by providing reassurance to commercial shipping and deterring further threats. We note recent reporting that Iran may be behind the attack. We will work with partners to ensure that those responsible are held to account.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 28 September to parliamentary Question 51426 on Qatar: Military Aid, for what reasons his Department is spending around £500,000 on Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Training and Advice in Qatar.
Answered by James Heappey
The Ministry of Defence is supporting Qatar to deliver a safe and secure World Cup tournament including through the provision of Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) Training and advice to the Qatar Armed Forces to counter potential threats to the tournament. The UK's contribution will add expertise and capability, it is a demonstration of our strong defence relationship, contributing to regional stability and protecting mutual prosperity and security.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to ensure that UK armed forces deployed to Mali are adequately equipped to perform their duties safely; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by James Heappey
MINUSMA operates in a challenging environment. UK personnel have been appropriately trained and are equipped for the task.
By way of example, the vehicles deployed have been selected following thorough analysis of the tasks the UK contingent will conduct on mission, and the terrain, environment and threat they will face and will provide the mission with a range of capabilities.
Troops will also deploy with a full-spectrum Explosive Ordinance and Search capability to mitigate the risk posed by explosive threats.
UK troop exposure to risk will be reviewed to mitigate any threats to their safety.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Coventry (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to assist the government of Iraq in its efforts to encourage post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruction in areas now liberated from Daesh in Iraq.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
With our partners in the Global Coalition and the wider international community, the UK is supporting the Government of Iraq’s recovery efforts in areas liberated from Daesh.
In the last year UN Development Programme (UNDP) report that these efforts have contributed to the return of 170,000 people to Tikrit, 49,000 people to Al Dour and 15,000 people to Mkeishifa.
Specific UK support includes providing: £2.5 million for UNDP’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation, which supports community reconciliation and the rehabilitation of infrastructure in newly liberated areas of stabilisation; a stabilisation advisor for UNDP; a Communications Advisor to support the Governor of Anbar; and £225,000 to UN Mine Action Service to establish a coordination unit to assess the scope of explosive threats. During his recent visit to Iraq, the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), discussed with Prime Minister Abadi the importance of reconciliation and rebuilding the lives of all Iraqis.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the government of Iraq in re-assimilating newly liberated regions from Daesh/ISIL; what steps the Government is taking to assist Iraq with such assimilation; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Government of Iraq is committed to stabilising areas which have been liberated from Daesh by providing the governance, services and security necessary to enable the safe return of Iraqis to these areas. The Global Coalition is supporting the Government of Iraq to do this, including by working through the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation. In the last year, UNDP report that these efforts have contributed to the return of 170,000 people to Tikrit, 49,000 people to Al Dour and 15,000 people to Mkeishifa. The UK has supported these efforts by providing £2.5 million to UNDP, deploying stabilisation advisors to UNDP and to the British Embassy in Baghdad, deploying a Communications Advisor to support the Governor of Anbar, and providing £225,000 to United Nations Mine Action Service to establish a coordination unit to assess the scope of explosive threats.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what defences exist against a momentum vessel attack on the Explosive Handling Jetty at RNAD Coulport.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Ministry of Defence works closely with wider national police, security and intelligence organisations, including the Security Service, to ensure it maintains effective protection for all defence assets against a range of threats. We do not comment on detailed intelligence or security measures to protect defence nuclear assets.