Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
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.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
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.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
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.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
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.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
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.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
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.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether RAF Reaper drones have (1) conducted strikes, or (2) provided reconnaissance support, as part of Operation Kipion.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
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.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
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.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
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.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
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.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
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.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Global Tuberculosis Report 2019, published on 17 October; and what steps they intend to take to ensure that their recent investment in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria improves global access to new treatments for drug-resistant Tuberculosis.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK Government recognises that the Global Tuberculosis Report 2019 provides important evidence on the challenges in tackling tuberculosis as an issue of global public health importance. It shows that progress has been made, particularly improvements in the number of cases of tuberculosis identified and increases in testing coverage for drug resistant tuberculosis. 7 million people with tuberculosis were identified globally in 2018; 600,000 more people than in 2017. Additionally, the proportion of people with a tuberculosis diagnosis who were tested for drug resistance rose from 41% in 2017 to 51% in 2018.
Investments in the Global Fund have played a major role in tackling the global epidemic of tuberculosis. Dealing with drug resistant tuberculosis is a key focus of the Global Fund through prevention, detection and treatment, including supporting countries to introduce bedaquiline and delamanid, two ground breaking new drugs for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis. The new drugs have fewer side effects and are more effective, increasing the chances that people will stay on the treatment and be cured.
We work with the Global Fund to ensure that our investment continues to support advances to improve access to treatment for both drug sensitive and drug resistant tuberculosis.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in addressing the findings of the report by the Office for Professional Body AML Supervision (OPBAS) Anti-Money Laundering Supervision by the Legal and Accountancy Professional Body Supervisors: Themes from the 2018 OPBAS anti-money laundering supervisory assessments; and what areas they have identified as key for OPBAS’s supervisory plans for 2019.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
In response to the recommendation from the Treasury Select Committee following its recent Inquiry into Economic Crime, HM Treasury will publish a detailed consideration of the process for responding to a recommendation from the Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision (OPBAS) for the removal of a professional body’s status as an anti-money laundering (AML) supervisor, including management of changes in supervisory responsibilities, by September 2019. The next steps in strengthening the UK’s approach to AML supervision will be set out more fully through an Economic Crime Plan, which is due to be published in July 2019.
This question has also been passed on to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), within which OPBAS is housed. The FCA will reply directly to Baroness Stern by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.