Baroness Stern Portrait

Baroness Stern

Crossbench - Life peer

Became Member: 13th July 1999


Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee
12th Jun 2014 - 27th Apr 2017
Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee)
23rd Jun 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Inquiries Act 2005 Committee
16th May 2013 - 26th Feb 2014
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
30th Nov 2004 - 15th Dec 2008
European Union Committee
6th Dec 1999 - 20th Nov 2003


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Baroness Stern has voted in 174 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Baroness Stern Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Ministry of Defence
(1 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Baroness Stern has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Baroness Stern's debates

Lords initiatives

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


Latest 38 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
9th Nov 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their bid to the European Maritime Safety Agency for remotely piloted air system support during 2020 was successful; if so, (1) between which dates, (2) in which maritime areas, and (3) from which airports, were aircraft flown; and which type of aircraft was used to provide any such support.

No bid was submitted to the European Maritime Safety Agency for such systems by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 2020.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
9th Nov 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government to which companies and organisations the Civil Aviation Authority has granted permission to fly unmanned aerial vehicles Beyond the Visual Line of Sight since January 2019; and which of those permissions are still valid.

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.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
27th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Cameroon about the impact of the cholera outbreak in Cameroon on the welfare and safety of prisoners in that country; and what assistance, if any, they plan to offer to them to help combat the outbreak.

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.

22nd Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what monies they have allocated to Cameroon from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund in the last 12 months; and for what purposes.

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.

22nd Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing to Cameroonian civil society organisations working in Anglophone regions in Cameroon focusing on (1) the needs and empowerment of women and girls, (2) the needs of internally displaced persons, (3) access to education, (4) peace-building, and (5) human rights monitoring.

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).

22nd Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Cameroon on the need for a negotiated political settlement to end armed conflict in the Anglophone regions.

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.

20th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any (1) systems, or (2) agreements are in place, to encourage the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to proactively share information with UK authorities relating to entities registered in these jurisdictions that are suspected to be connected to sanctioned individuals.

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.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
20th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken towards the introduction of beneficial ownership in the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

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.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
10th May 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Cameroon to protect journalists at risk of (1) persecution, (2) arbitrary detention, (3) kidnapping, and (4) abuse, for reporting on the continuing conflict in the Anglophone regions; and what steps they will take to provide support for media freedom in that country.

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.

10th May 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Cameroon about the death in custody of journalist Samuel Abuwe Ajieka, in August 2019.

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.

24th Jun 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Annual Report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, published on 21 June; and what steps they are taking to hold to account perpetrators of violations against children.

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.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
24th Jun 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government how the children and armed conflict agenda will be reflected within the strategic conflict agenda.

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.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
24th Jun 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations, if any, they plan to make to the UN Secretary-General about the absence of the Saudi Arabian and Emirati-led Coalition from the annual report by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Annual Report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, published on 21 June, on perpetrators of violations against children.

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.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
3rd Mar 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have been made to the government of Bahrain to secure (1) the release of, and (2) access to medical treatment for, Sayed Hasan Ameen.

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.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
3rd Mar 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports that children in Bahrain have been arrested and had confessions coerced from them, what assessment they have made of the government of Bahrain's compliance with international (1) human rights law, and (2) standards in the treatment of detained children.

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.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
28th Apr 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether information on grave violations of international law against children in situations of armed conflict is taken into account during Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments.

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.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
28th Apr 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what, if any, information contained within the annual and country-specific reports of the UN Secretary-General on children and armed conflict is taken into account during Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments.

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.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
28th Apr 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether independent experts on children and armed conflict are consulted as part of the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessment process to ensure UK overseas security and justice assistance work meets our human rights obligations and our values.

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.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
28th Apr 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times, in the last three calendar years, following assessment via the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessment process, UK justice or security assistance (1) to any state has been refused, and (2) projects have been modified, on the basis that there was considered to be serious risk that any such assistance would directly or significantly contribute to violations of the right of the child, including the use of UK assistance in hostilities.

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.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
11th Jan 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are (1) the terms of reference, and (2) timelines, for the judge-led review into how allegations of wrongdoing by military personnel are raised and investigated, announced in October 2020; and what opportunities will be provided for parliamentarians, experts, and civil society to feed into the review.

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.

9th Nov 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Goldie on 30 July (HL7182), whether RAF drones used on operations outside of Operation Shader are being used in support of NATO operations or missions.

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.

22nd Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent progress they have made on the Zephyr High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite programme, following the reported mishaps in 2019.

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.

22nd Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Goldie on 18 June (HL5486), whether it is their policy not to answer questions about the deployment of RAF Reaper drones; and if so, when this policy was agreed.

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.

22nd Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Watchkeeper airframes are currently in-service; and how many have (1) undertaken flights in the past 12 months, and (2) been in storage for longer than 12 months.

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.

10th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Ministry of Defence’s proposal to fly Protector drones within UK airspace, which government body is responsible for addressing safety concerns regarding this proposal; and how are those safety considerations being assessed.

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.

10th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether forthcoming Protector drones operating out of RAF Waddington or other RAF military bases will undertake any live fire exercises within UK territory.

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.

10th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government when local people likely to be affected by the airspace change proposal initiated by the Ministry of Defence in Enabling Remotely Piloted Air System Operations Out of RAF Waddington, including those in (1) Nottingham, (2) Mansfield, (3) Scunthorpe, (4) Grimsby, (5) Grantham, and (6) Boston, will have an opportunity to engage in a consultation 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.

10th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of Protector drone flights on the British public, particularly in and around the area covered by the airspace change proposal initiated by the Ministry of Defence in Enabling Remotely Piloted Air System Operations Out of RAF Waddington.

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.

9th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether RAF Reaper drones have (1) conducted strikes, or (2) provided reconnaissance support, as part of Operation Kipion.

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.

9th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made on (1) the 'Mosquito' project, (2) the 'Many Drones Make Light Work' programme, and (3) other work to network-enabled or ‘swarm' drones; and when they anticipate such network-enabled drone capability to be operational.

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.

9th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what types of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems will be used to support the UK troops being deployed alongside the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali.

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.

9th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK troops being deployed as part of the UK’s long-range reconnaissance force alongside the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali will be supported by (1) British Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, and (2) Royal Air Force Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems.

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.

9th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many personnel have qualified as (1) Reaper drone pilots, and (2) Reaper drone sensor operators, in each of the past five years.

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.

9th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether RAF Reaper drones have been used for operations outside of Operation Shader over the past 12 months; and if so, for what purpose they were used and where.

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.

21st Feb 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many women have left prison without safe accommodation to return to in each of the last five years.

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.

21st Feb 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to include unsafe, temporary and insecure accommodation within definitions of homelessness when collecting data on women leaving prison.

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.