Asked by: Baroness Tonge (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have invited the Israeli Air Force to join the Royal Air Force in Exercise Cobra Warrior in September 2019; and what consideration they gave, when awarding a contract to Elbit Systems UK, of the use of that company by the government of Israel.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Her Majesty's Government works closely with the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) in order to counter the destabilising regional activity of Iran and Hezbollah, and to conduct operations against Daesh. The IDF also provides crucial access and overflight for the RAF to be able to conduct air operations in support of Op SHADER. Accordingly, in support of this important defence relationship, the RAF invited the Israeli Air Force to join Exercise COBRA WARRIOR, alongside RAF, German, and Italian Air Force Units.
The Exercise enables participating Air Forces to learn mutual lessons from operating together; just as the RAF does on exercise with many other Air Forces. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has a contract with Elbit Systems UK for the MORPHEUS Battlefield Management Application. Under the contract Elbit Systems UK will provide the British Army with an operationally proven battle management application for both headquarters and tactical units. As with all MOD contractors, we assess the legal and financial status of a company before placing a contract, and take into account any other factors which may impact on delivery of the requirements.
Asked by: Baroness Tonge (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what training the army and Joint Forces Command supply to the Palestinian Authority Security Forces; what is their budget for such training; and which department provides the budget.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
I refer the noble Baroness to the answer I gave her on 19 June 2018, to HL 8534.
This training is paid for by the cross-Government Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) and MOD's Defence Assistance Fund (DAF). In financial year 2017-18, the CSSF spend was £2.32 million; and DAF spend was £145,000.
Asked by: Baroness Tonge (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what training programmes are delivered by the British army and Joint Forces Command to (1) the Israeli Defence Force in Israel and (2) security forces in the Occupied Territories.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The British Army and Joint Forces Command do not provide training to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) in Israel, although representatives do participate in Israeli-hosted conferences and visits to share knowledge and experience. Some education and training activities are provided to IDF personnel in the UK, including at the Royal College of Defence Studies.
In the Occupied Palestine Territories (OPTs), the UK Ministry of Defence provides several training programmes to the Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF). In the financial year 2017-18 the British Support Team based in Ramallah oversaw the delivery of the following courses to members of the PASF in the OPTs: Building Integrity for Senior Leaders; Strategic leadership; Conflict resolution; Training Needs Analysis; English language; Quality assurance and continual improvement of training delivery; Lessons identification; Media skills. The UK has also provided education and training to PASF personnel in the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Tonge (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they supplied spare parts for Land Rover vehicles to the Israeli Defence Force during 2017; and if so, what parts they supplied.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
No spare parts for Land Rover vehicles were supplied to the Israeli Defence Force during 2017.
Asked by: Baroness Tonge (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what military and crowd control equipment they purchased from Israel in 2017.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Baroness Tonge (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what have been the results of the training of police and security forces in Bahrain by UK armed forces.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Defence relationship contributes to UK objectives in Bahrain through programmes of world class training and education. Whilst this relationship is almost exclusively military to military, the one element that is delivered to the police and security forces concerns training to counter improvised explosive devices. This work has undoubtedly saved Bahraini lives and potentially those of UK citizens and our own Armed Forces based there.
Asked by: Baroness Tonge (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the leaked 2009 report by the United States Central Intelligence Agency that drone strikes are ineffective and counter-productive.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Government deplores the leaking of any classified information, wherever it occurs. It has been the policy of successive British Governments not to comment on leaked documents.
Asked by: Baroness Tonge (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what training has been provided to British military and police personnel by Israel in the past 12 months.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
During the last 12 months, one military officer has attended an International Brigade Logistics Course in Israel at the invitation of the Israeli Defence Forces.
Asked by: Baroness Tonge (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what legal authority they obtained before conducting the drone attack in Syria that was announced on 7 September.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
My right hon. friend the Defence Secretary authorised this operation. The Attorney General was consulted in advance and advised that there would be a clear legal basis for action in international law.
Asked by: Baroness Tonge (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what weapons the United Kingdom has purchased from Israel in the last five years.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
In the last five years the Ministry of Defence has purchased the Exactor weapons system, comprising Exactor 2 palletised launchers and Exactor Mk5 missiles, from a contractor based in Israel.