Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether UK military personnel trained in, or dedicated to, cultural protection have been involved in liaison with Saudi Arabia regarding its intervention in Yemen.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
All UK Service personnel receive mandatory annual training in the Law of Armed Conflict and this includes training in cultural protection. They will also receive further training prior to their deployment.
Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when British military liaison began with Saudi Arabia regarding its intervention in Yemen.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The UK and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have a long history of defence co-operation and this involves an ongoing defence engagement relationship.
In addition, we have deployed a small number of military personnel serving as liaison officers in Saudi headquarters to provide insight into Saudi operations in Yemen. These liaison officers are not involved in the targeting process - whether it be selection, decision-making or directing.
The first of these liaison officers was deployed in May 2015.