Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by Baroness Stern, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
Baroness Stern has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Baroness Stern has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
No bid was submitted to the European Maritime Safety Agency for such systems by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 2020.
Since January 2019, the CAA has granted exemptions to 20 different organisations to allow them to fly Unmanned Aircraft Systems beyond visual line of sight, and 14 different organisations hold an exemption that is currently valid.
The state of prisons and welfare of prisoners is a sensitive subject in Cameroon and requires careful handling. The UK's partner, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), conducts prison monitoring as part of its programme in Cameroon - last year, they visited 20 places of detention and 9,247 detainees. The UK has contributed to the wider cholera response in Cameroon through core contributions to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which recently made an allocation of $1.7 million to WHO and UNICEF. More generally, the UK has allocated over £20 million of humanitarian support for needs in Cameroon over the last five years, and regularly calls for continued humanitarian access. We continue to engage with the UN and other humanitarian actors active across Cameroon to ensure that urgent needs are met, including most recently with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on 29 April, on the impact of the suspension of humanitarian activities.
In the last financial year (2021-2022) the UK allocated £1.1 million from the CSSF-funded Lake Chad Basin Regional Stabilisation Facility (RSF) to support UN stabilisation activities in the Far North of Cameroon.
The UK also supports capacity building and training to the Cameroon military in the Far North, through approximately £1.3 million of CSSF funding in financial year 2021-2022. This includes the provision of targeted training to select Cameroonian armed forces, including the Battalion d'Intervention Rapide (BIR). This training is focused on the Lake Chad Basin conflict only, and emphasises obligations to adhere to strict International Human Rights standards. We have also supported training on the law of armed conflict.
In addition, over the last financial year we have allocated £350,000 to CSSF funded projects in the North-West and South-West regions of the country. This has supported projects primarily focused on improving human rights, including training of human rights monitors and improving the quality of human rights reporting, as well as training to improve the protection of human rights defenders.
Over the last three years, we have provided over £20 million in humanitarian support across Cameroon, including the North-West and South-West regions. This funding is providing support to the most vulnerable people to improve food security, healthcare, water access and sanitation. We have also delivered Conflict, Stability and Security Fund programming, with the aim of increasing respect for human rights; including training of human rights monitors and improving the quality of human rights reporting, as well as delivering training to better protect human rights defenders. Finally, we have funded capacity building to enhance the technical skills of women to better participate in peace processes and support survivors of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV).
The UK regularly raises the Anglophone crisis with the Government of Cameroon, stressing the impact it continues to have on the country and its people, as well as the need for inclusive dialogue. The Minister for Africa raised this with the Cameroonian High Commissioner last month.
The Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies share valuable company ownership information with UK law authorities under the Exchange of Notes process, whereby information is shared with UK law authorities within at least 24 hours of receiving a request (and within one hour for urgent requests). Information provided has enabled the seizure of illicit funds, including information to support the National Crime Agency's (NCA) first Unexplained Wealth Order, which froze approximately £25 million. Furthermore, the UK's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, which sits within HM Treasury, engages regularly with the Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies on compliance, enforcement and licensing. This engagement has assisted these jurisdictions in developing the implementation of financial sanctions across the wider UK Family.
UK sanctions apply in all Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies, and these jurisdictions have frozen Russian assets with a combined estimated value in excess of £10 billion. These figures are likely to change.
The Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies are self-governing jurisdictions with their own democratically elected governments, who are responsible for their own financial services policy. The Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies already share beneficial ownership information with UK law enforcement and have committed to introduce publicly accessible registers of company beneficial ownership. The UK Government welcomes this action; it is an important step forward and a positive response to the changing UK, global norms on corporate transparency. These commitments exceed the standards set by the Financial Action Task Force on beneficial ownership transparency, and put them ahead of most jurisdictions. The Overseas Territories Governments are making good progress, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is providing support with this, as required.
Reports of human rights abuses and violations in Cameroon by both armed separatists and the security forces are disturbing, including against activists and journalists. We continue to regularly raise specific human rights concerns with the Government of Cameroon. We have consistently called for an end to arbitrary detentions and media infringements. Journalists should be protected and have the right to report freely without fear of violence. We also continue to urge the Cameroonian Government to remain engaged with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Finally, we are working with international partners, including France and the United States, to raise the North-West and South-West crisis in multilateral fora. At the UN Human Rights Council in September 2021, the UK called for an end to violence and impartial investigations to hold the perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses to account.
Reports of human rights abuses and violations in Cameroon by both armed separatists and the security forces are disturbing, including against activists and journalists. We continue to regularly raise specific human rights concerns with the Government of Cameroon. We have consistently called for an end to arbitrary detentions and media infringements. Journalists should be protected and have the right to report freely without fear of violence. We also continue to urge the Cameroonian Government to remain engaged with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Finally, we are working with international partners, including France and the United States, to raise the North-West and South-West crisis in multilateral fora. At the UN Human Rights Council in September 2021, the UK called for an end to violence and impartial investigations to hold the perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses to account.
The Secretary-General's Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) shows how far we still need to travel to end the suffering of children. The UK is particularly concerned about the increase in violations committed against children in countries already on the Council's agenda, like Somalia. We have called on the Secretary General to ensure that next year's report includes the plight of children in Ethiopia and Mozambique. As a member of the UN Security Council CAAC Working Group, the UK applies diplomatic pressure to perpetrators to enter into UN action plans to verify and release any children associated with armed groups and forces, to prevent re-recruitment and ensure the provision of appropriate reintegration and rehabilitation assistance. Recently, we have negotiated strong calls to action for parties to conflict in Somalia, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia.
The UK is firmly committed to ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to protecting all children affected by armed conflict. In the coming months, we will be reviewing the UK's approach to tackling violent conflict, and will continue to ensure that the children and armed conflict agenda is reflected in this.
The UK continues to call on the UN Secretary General for greater transparency on listing decisions. The UK is firmly committed to ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to protecting all children affected by armed conflict. We use our permanent UN Security Council (UNSC) membership to ensure conflict-related child protection issues remain a key part of UNSC discussions and that UN operations address child protection issues.
We have followed the detention of Sayed Hasan Ameen who was arrested with others for arson, endangering the lives and property of others, and preparing and possessing Molotov cocktails. We understand his case is pending legal proceedings, and is being supervised by social work specialists. We will continue to monitor and raise this case if/when appropriate. The Government of Bahrain has been clear that access to medical care for those in detention is provided in line with the constitution of Bahrain.
We are following recent juvenile detention cases in Bahrain, which are pending legal proceedings, and will continue to monitor them and raise them if/when appropriate. We understand they are being supervised by social work specialists. We continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to follow due process in all cases and to meet its international and domestic human rights commitments, including in the case of juveniles.
We believe the recent ratification of the Correctional Justice Act is a positive step. We note that this law will be enforced 6 months after its ratification on 18 February 2021. We understand that Article 87 will permit a Judicial Committee to hear cases and potentially replace penalties that were decided before the law was enforced. We will monitor the implementation of this new law, in light of international human rights standards.
The UK is an active permanent member of the United Nations Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), which leads the international response to violations committed against children in conflict. These violations include: the recruitment and use of children, sexual violence against children, killing and maiming of children, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals and the denial of humanitarian access to children in conflict.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) updated its guidance on Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) in 2017 by written ministerial statement. Since then, information on its implementation has been included in the FCO's Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. The OSJA guidance applies to issues of international humanitarian law as well as human rights risks. As part of implementation of the OSJA guidance, Her Majesty's Government missions pool expertise from a range of sources including civil society partners and international organisations, according to the situation in the country concerned. This includes relevant UN sources of expertise.
The UN CAAC Working Group focuses on responding to the UN Secretary-General's annual report on CAAC which lists governments and armed groups for committing grave violations against children. As a member of the group, the UK applies diplomatic pressure to listed parties to enter into concrete UN action plans to verify and release any children associated with armed groups and forces, to prevent re-recruitment and ensure the provision of appropriate reintegration and rehabilitation assistance. We ensure that the technical assistance we provide is in line with international standards, and fully complies with our human rights obligations.
The UK is an active permanent member of the United Nations Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), which leads the international response to violations committed against children in conflict. These violations include: the recruitment and use of children, sexual violence against children, killing and maiming of children, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals and the denial of humanitarian access to children in conflict.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) updated its guidance on Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) in 2017 by written ministerial statement. Since then, information on its implementation has been included in the FCO's Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. The OSJA guidance applies to issues of international humanitarian law as well as human rights risks. As part of implementation of the OSJA guidance, Her Majesty's Government missions pool expertise from a range of sources including civil society partners and international organisations, according to the situation in the country concerned. This includes relevant UN sources of expertise.
The UN CAAC Working Group focuses on responding to the UN Secretary-General's annual report on CAAC which lists governments and armed groups for committing grave violations against children. As a member of the group, the UK applies diplomatic pressure to listed parties to enter into concrete UN action plans to verify and release any children associated with armed groups and forces, to prevent re-recruitment and ensure the provision of appropriate reintegration and rehabilitation assistance. We ensure that the technical assistance we provide is in line with international standards, and fully complies with our human rights obligations.
The UK is an active permanent member of the United Nations Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), which leads the international response to violations committed against children in conflict. These violations include: the recruitment and use of children, sexual violence against children, killing and maiming of children, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals and the denial of humanitarian access to children in conflict.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) updated its guidance on Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) in 2017 by written ministerial statement. Since then, information on its implementation has been included in the FCO's Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. The OSJA guidance applies to issues of international humanitarian law as well as human rights risks. As part of implementation of the OSJA guidance, Her Majesty's Government missions pool expertise from a range of sources including civil society partners and international organisations, according to the situation in the country concerned. This includes relevant UN sources of expertise.
The UN CAAC Working Group focuses on responding to the UN Secretary-General's annual report on CAAC which lists governments and armed groups for committing grave violations against children. As a member of the group, the UK applies diplomatic pressure to listed parties to enter into concrete UN action plans to verify and release any children associated with armed groups and forces, to prevent re-recruitment and ensure the provision of appropriate reintegration and rehabilitation assistance. We ensure that the technical assistance we provide is in line with international standards, and fully complies with our human rights obligations.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) updated its guidance on Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) in 2017 by written ministerial statement. Since then, information on its implementation has been included in the FCO's Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. Information on the number of times that projects informed by the OSJA guidance have been either refused or modified on the basis of specific forms of human rights risks, is not held centrally nor readily available. Any technical assistance we provide is kept under regular review to ensure it is in line with international standards, and fully complies with our human rights obligations and the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance process.
The Review, which is due to report by the summer, was commissioned by the Government to ensure that we have the most up-to date and future-proof skills and processes in place to investigate and, where appropriate prosecute, cases where serious allegations of criminal wrong-doing are made against UK forces on operations overseas. Where necessary, improvements will be made. Whilst there is no formal consultation process in place, it will be for the Judge to decide who can best help him with the review. A copy of the Terms of Reference for the Review is attached to this answer.
REAPER is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform. We do not comment on intelligence matters and I am therefore withholding the information as its disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is sponsoring a High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) Operational Concept Demonstrator (OCD) utilising the Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) Zephyr platform to explore the utility of this cutting edge and novel technology.
There are always setbacks when you push the boundaries of technology to explore future concepts. The unfortunate incidents in 2019 led to investigations being carried out by the relevant authorities and ADS have taken the findings and implemented improvements. ADS planned to demonstrate these improvements during the HAPS OCD this summer, but trials have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The MOD continue to work with Airbus to progress the OCD and to identify further opportunities for demonstration in order to fully explore the utility of HAPS.
There is no policy to not answer questions about the deployment of RAF REAPER drones. However, there is a long standing policy not to comment on operational matters where the disclosure of information would increase the risk to intelligence and operational security.
45 Watchkeeper airframes were in service as at 23 July 2020. 13 have flown in the past 12 months and 23 have been in storage for longer than 12 months. Of those flying, 10 have been operated by the Army from Akrotiri in Cyprus and Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, three have been used for test and evaluation. The airframes in storage are held at specific, graduated, levels of readiness. This is commensurate with practices used on other Defence capabilities and assets.
Final authorisation for the Protector to fly within UK domestic airspace rests with the Civilian Aviation Authority (CAA). However, the RAF's Aviation Duty Holder is responsible for ensuring the aircraft is operated safely in accordance with Military Aviation Authority regulations.
Once the RAF's Protector has achieved Full Operational Capability, it is planned that, as with other military aircraft, it will conduct live firing training within existing UK Air Weapons Ranges.
In developing its Air Change Proposal, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is following the CAP1616 process as mandated by the Civil Aviation Authority with respect to any air space changes within the UK.
Currently, the exact dimensions of the airspace required are not yet known as the Air Change Proposal has yet to enter the design phase. Once the proposed dimensions are known, CAP1616 prescribes how stakeholder and public consultations are to take place.
The MOD expects to carry out a full consultation with communities within any potentially affected areas in the summer of 2021. This will provide an opportunity for the public to offer their views on the proposal.
In developing its Air Change Proposal, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is following the CAP1616 process as mandated by the Civil Aviation Authority with respect to any air space changes within the UK.
Currently, the exact dimensions of the airspace required are not yet known as the Air Change Proposal has yet to enter the design phase. Once the proposed dimensions are known, CAP1616 prescribes how stakeholder and public consultations are to take place.
The MOD expects to carry out a full consultation with communities within any potentially affected areas in the summer of 2021. This will provide an opportunity for the public to offer their views on the proposal.
I cannot comment on whether or not RAF Reaper remotely piloted aircraft have been or will be employed as part of Operation Kipion. I am withholding information on the location of Reaper aircraft as its release would, or would be likely, to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Project Mosquito is a technology demonstration being conducted in two phases. Phase 1 is complete, and the Ministry of Defence is currently evaluating the proposals for Phase 2. As Project Mosquito is a technology demonstrator, it is not anticipated that the project will result in an operational capability.
The Many Drones Make Light Work project explores the technical feasibility and military use of a swarm of up to twenty small unmanned aircraft vehicles, operating under the control of one individual. The project is in its final phase, Phase 3, delivering a structured flight evaluation programme of this new capability with the successful first trials held in March 2020.
The Royal Air Force's swarming drones project continues to be developed by the Rapid Capabilities Office with progress during recent trials exceeding expectations in several areas. Following the successful first trials, 216 Squadron was reformed at RAF Waddington on 1 April 2020. They will take on the operating role for the RAF's fleet of network enabled drones.
The UK's upcoming deployment to MINUSMA will be supported by the British Army Desert Hawk. This is assessed as the most suitable UAV for the deployment. There are currently no plans for Royal Air Force Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems to be used on the deployment. UK forces may also receive support from other Remotely Piloted Air Systems which are deployed as part of MINUSMA, including the German HERON.
The UK's upcoming deployment to MINUSMA will be supported by the British Army Desert Hawk. This is assessed as the most suitable UAV for the deployment. There are currently no plans for Royal Air Force Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems to be used on the deployment. UK forces may also receive support from other Remotely Piloted Air Systems which are deployed as part of MINUSMA, including the German HERON.
I am withholding annual information about the numbers who have qualified as Reaper pilots or sensor operators in each of the last five years as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
However, I can confirm that over calendar years 2015 to 2019 a total of 93 personnel qualified as Reaper pilots or sensor operators.
REAPER is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform. We do not comment on intelligence matters and I am therefore withholding the information as its disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Data on settled accommodation for supervised women prison leavers from 2017/18 to 2019/20 is currently recorded and published in the Community Performance Statistics on gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prison-and-probation-trusts-performance-statistics#community-performance-statistics). Data for 2020/21 will be published in July.
To ensure consistent and accurate data recording, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), in collaboration with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) and the Welsh Government, has recently updated the Accommodation Recording Guidance to ensure probation regions have a clear and consistent understanding of the accommodation status definitions, and how to record accurately. The Guidance defines homelessness as where an individual is rough sleeping, squatting, residing in night shelters, emergency hostels or campsites. Individuals with other forms of temporary, short-term or otherwise unstable accommodation are encompassed within the ‘unsettled accommodation’ category in published statistics.
Our Prisons Strategy White Paper sets out our vision that no-one subject to probation supervision is released from prison homeless.
To achieve this, HMPPS launched a new transitional accommodation service providing up to 12 weeks’ accommodation and support for those leaving prison at risk of homelessness. The service was launched last July in five probation areas in England. From 2024-5, we will spend £200m per year to reduce reoffending, including expanding the provision to support the thousands of people across England and Wales who leave prison each year without accommodation. The service takes account of the needs of women with accommodation provision dedicated to single gender usage as required.
DLUHC launched their Accommodation for Ex-Offenders (AFEO) scheme on 28 July 2021 to support offenders at risk of homelessness into private rental tenancies. Overall, this financial year, £13 million has been allocated to 87 schemes across 145 local authorities. Combined with our temporary accommodation service, this builds a pathway from prison to settled accommodation.
Data on settled accommodation for supervised women prison leavers from 2017/18 to 2019/20 is currently recorded and published in the Community Performance Statistics on gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prison-and-probation-trusts-performance-statistics#community-performance-statistics). Data for 2020/21 will be published in July.
To ensure consistent and accurate data recording, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), in collaboration with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) and the Welsh Government, has recently updated the Accommodation Recording Guidance to ensure probation regions have a clear and consistent understanding of the accommodation status definitions, and how to record accurately. The Guidance defines homelessness as where an individual is rough sleeping, squatting, residing in night shelters, emergency hostels or campsites. Individuals with other forms of temporary, short-term or otherwise unstable accommodation are encompassed within the ‘unsettled accommodation’ category in published statistics.
Our Prisons Strategy White Paper sets out our vision that no-one subject to probation supervision is released from prison homeless.
To achieve this, HMPPS launched a new transitional accommodation service providing up to 12 weeks’ accommodation and support for those leaving prison at risk of homelessness. The service was launched last July in five probation areas in England. From 2024-5, we will spend £200m per year to reduce reoffending, including expanding the provision to support the thousands of people across England and Wales who leave prison each year without accommodation. The service takes account of the needs of women with accommodation provision dedicated to single gender usage as required.
DLUHC launched their Accommodation for Ex-Offenders (AFEO) scheme on 28 July 2021 to support offenders at risk of homelessness into private rental tenancies. Overall, this financial year, £13 million has been allocated to 87 schemes across 145 local authorities. Combined with our temporary accommodation service, this builds a pathway from prison to settled accommodation.