Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with NATO allies about the importance of retaining a minimum credible deterrent for as long as global conditions require.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Since 1962, the UK has committed its nuclear deterrent to the defence of our NATO allies. The nuclear deterrent deters the most extreme threats to our national security, keeping the UK and our NATO allies safe.
As was made clear in the NATO Washington Summit declaration, nuclear deterrence is the cornerstone of Alliance security. NATO and NATO Allies will continue to take actions to enhance our deterrence and defence against all threats and challenges and across all domains. As the Prime Minister has set out, this Government has an unshakeable commitment to NATO and our nuclear deterrent.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether those who apply to the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy scheme receive a receipt or acknowledgment of their application; and what is the timeframe for processing applications following the completion of security checks.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
All applicants to the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) are directed to a confirmation screen on completion of the application form, with the option to print or save this as record of their submission.
In the latter stages of Op PITTING and subsequently we have received a very large number of applications, including 12,000 since the end of the operation. The time taken to process applications varies enormously, in particular based on the amount of information the applicant provides. Security checks are principally a Home Office requirement and are conducted once eligibility in principle has been established.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Humanity International's call for the development of an international political declaration to end the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas and to ensure support for the victims of these weapons.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The UK is at the forefront of international discussions on the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas. Officials contributed extensively to the Vienna Conference on Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare in October 2019, in which steps towards a political declaration were taken. The next round of negotiations will take place in Geneva in February 2020 and we will take an active role in those discussions in order to ensure humanitarian concerns are balanced against operational realities. In the UK's experience, support and assistance to victims of conflict is best provided through integrated social and economic development programmes in affected countries.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Goldie on 26 June, relating to the Chiefs of Defence Staff (ChoDS) Network and the promotion and integration of gender perspectives in the armed forces, stating that 10 NATO members, including the UK, are members of the ChoDS Network (HL Deb, col 156), which members of NATO are not yet members of the ChoDS Network; and what discussions they have had with those countries to ascertain their reasons for deciding not to join that Network.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Since launching the Chief of Defence Staff (CHODS) network in November 2017, seven NATO members (Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK and the USA) have joined and three further members (Belgium, Estonia and Germany) have expressed an interest in joining. This is in addition to the 20 non-NATO countries who are also members.
Conversations are on-going with the remaining NATO members and, as the network matures, we anticipate more will join. The Vice Chief of Defence Staff, General Sir Gordon Messenger, will host the first meeting of the CHODS network in the autumn of 2018, ahead of Canada taking the chairmanship of the network in 2019.