Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many UK armed forces personnel who are (1) women, and (2) men, will be deployed in the UN peacekeeping force in South Sudan.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer I gave her on 13 December 2016 to Question HL3805.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many gender focal points there are in (1) the UK armed forces, (2) the Ministry of Defence, and (3) the UK armed forces personnel deployed in the UN peacekeeping force in South Sudan.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer I gave her on 13 December 2016 to Question HL3806.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many gender focal points exist in (1) the UK's armed forces, (2) the Ministry of Defence, and (3) the UK's peacekeeping force in South Sudan.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
There are now over 40 Gender Focal Points (GFPs) within the ranks of the UK Armed Forces, including in the Ministry of Defence, four of whom are awaiting deployment to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the number of (1) women, and (2) men, who will be deployed in the UK peacekeeping office in South Sudan.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The UK intends to deploy up to 400 troops to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) of whom, approximately 6%, are expected to be female. This would be double the UN average, with women making up about 3% of UN peacekeepers worldwide. In addition, the UK has four male personnel at the UN mission's headquarters in Juba, including the Chief of Staff.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) men, and (2) women, attended the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in London on 8 September.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
There were 302 male and 40 female attendees for the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in London on 8 September.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to use British aircraft as part of an international effort to enforce a no-fly zone intended to stop Russian attacks on Syria.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Government understands the attraction of an internationally supported no-fly zone in Syria. We have not ruled out any options as we continue to work to identify what more the international community can do to support the UN and help the people of Syria, but the practicalities of any no-fly zone would need to be considered very carefully with partners.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much money has been spent to date, and how much money is allocated to be spent in the future, on training the Burmese army.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
We do not provide combat training to the Burmese army. Since 2013, we have undertaken a limited number of carefully calibrated education courses with the Burmese military focussed on modernisation and reform of the army and which adhere to the core principles of democratic accountability, international law and human rights. As the single most influential institution in Burma, it is right that we engage with the military to encourage them to support Burma's continuing transition to democracy.
From late 2013 to March 2015, the UK spent £105,905 on these educational activities. In financial year 2015-16, £74,210.82 has been allocated for the provision of English Language Training at the Defence Services Academy of Burma and a further £85,000 towards the delivery of leadership and reform activities. We are continuing to carefully assess what additional educational activities we might undertake with the Burmese military in future years in order to encourage reform.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any review of the training being provided to the Burmese Army has examined concerns about the shooting and killing of Sai Sarm Tip in eastern Shan State on 12 December 2014 by Burmese army troops from Light Infantry Brigade 573.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
We have not conducted a formal review of the education provided to the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) since the killing of Sai Sarm Tip in eastern Shan State on 12 December 2014, about whose death we were concerned. Incidents such as this highlight the continued requirement for fundamental reform of the Burmese military. We do not provide any training that enhances the combat capability of the Tatmadaw. Since December 2014 we have delivered two educational courses to the Tatmadaw focusing on democratic accountability and rule of law which included modules on human rights issues. We have consulted extensively with members of ethnic armed groups, civil society and the political opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and there is support of our approach. Aung San Suu Kyi also attended an event during our latest education course in January. While we recognise that defence education remains a sensitive issue, without engaging with the Tatmadaw our ability to influence their behaviour and bind them into a long term process of political reform, including improving their human rights record, will be limited.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when details of the training course provided by the United Kingdom to the Burmese army will be released to Burma Campaign UK following Burma Campaign UK's successful appeal under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to obtain such information.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
The information requested was released on 22 May 2014 within the statutory 20 working day timescale prescribed for information requests under the Freedom of Information Act. It has not been subject to an appeal.