Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to supply Ukraine with missiles with sufficient range to destroy missile systems in Russia which may be targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The UK will keep our support to Ukraine under review and has not ruled out the possibility of providing longer range weapons systems to counter Russia's recent indiscriminate mass targeting of civilian infrastructure.
We have provided Ukraine with military aid on the understanding that it will be used in accordance with international humanitarian law. We liaise on a daily basis with the Ukrainian Government, and they are clear that equipment provided by the UK is intended for the defence of Ukraine.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need to supply Ukraine with long-range weapons to neutralise missile sites inside Russia.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
We have provided Ukraine with military aid on the understanding that it will be used in accordance with international humanitarian law. We liaise on a daily basis with the Ukrainian Government, and they are clear that equipment provided by the UK is intended for the defence of Ukraine.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with NATO allies to send all available winter warfare clothing to the Ukrainian military.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
On 9 November, we announced that the UK would provide Armed Forces of Ukraine recruits with extreme cold weather kits, including 25,000 sets of extreme cold weather clothing and 20,000 sleeping bags. The UK has been a leading advocate for the provision of winter equipment and has supported the delivery of tens of thousands of additional sets through the International Donors Coordination Cell.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any forecast of the impact on the numbers of recruits to the London Scottish Regiment following the change in uniform from Highland dress to the uniform of the Scots Guards.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Under Future Soldier, the London Regiment redesignated as 1st Battalion London Guards on 1 May 2022. As part of this change, the four companies within the Regiment have adopted the name, cap badge and dress of their new affiliated Regular Regiment.
In the case of A (London Scottish) Company which redesignated as G (Messines) Company, it has become the Reserve Company of the Scots Guards and has adopted the cap badge and dress of this regiment.
Whilst there has not been a forecast of the impact on recruitment, the redesignation should provide the soldiers in G (Messines) Company with more opportunities to deploy on operations and exercises alongside their regular counterparts. Coupled with the Guards brand, it is therefore expected that there will be a positive impact on recruitment and retention.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the London Scottish Hodden Grey tartan was replaced when the London Scottish regiment adopted the dress of the Scots Guards; and whether this was consistent with the undertaking in the previous defence review concerning further cap badge losses from regiments.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Under Future Soldier, the London Regiment redesignated as 1st Battalion London Guards on 1 May 2022. As part of this change, the four companies within the Regiment have adopted the name, cap badge and dress of their new affiliated Regular Regiment.
In the case of A (London Scottish) Company which redesignated as G (Messines) Company, it has become the Reserve Company of the Scots Guards and has adopted the cap badge and dress of this regiment.
Whilst there has not been a forecast of the impact on recruitment, the redesignation should provide the soldiers in G (Messines) Company with more opportunities to deploy on operations and exercises alongside their regular counterparts. Coupled with the Guards brand, it is therefore expected that there will be a positive impact on recruitment and retention.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what defensive missile systems they will supply to the Ukrainian Defence Forces to destroy Russian (1) missile bases, or (2) artillery bases, inside Russia but which fire into Ukraine.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The UK, our partners and allies have provided defensive weapons systems to the Ukrainian Armed Forces to enable them to resist Russia's ongoing illegal aggression. These include more than 4,000 anti-tank weapons from the UK alone. We will continue to provide defensive weapons to meet Ukraine's requirements.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what land-based anti-ship missiles or howitzers they will make available to the Ukrainian Defence Forces so that they can destroy Russian ships in the Black Sea.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The UK is actively pursuing options to support the Ukrainians with their coastal defence. Ukraine has requested a range of capabilities including coastal defence systems, and artillery and counter battery capabilities. This request is being carefully considered within the wider package of defensive military support to Ukraine, in addition to a wider series of commitments made with partners.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the claims by the government of Russia that their forces are repositioning in the north of Ukraine but reinforcing their strength in the Donbass region, what extra military resources and materials they intend to provide to the Ukrainian Defence Forces (1) to help cut off the Russians in the north as they retreat or reposition, and (2) to strengthen Ukrainian forces in the Donbass region to prevent Russian encirclement.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Defence Secretary hosted the second International Defence Donor Conference for Ukraine on 31 March, leading the efforts of allies and partners to bolster the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The conference brought together 35 international partners to discuss the latest situation in Ukraine and address the country's most pressing requirements for lethal and non-lethal military aid.
The UK, alongside the international community, has committed to widening its package of defensive military support for Ukraine and exploring new ways of sustaining the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the longer term.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to supply the Ukrainian Defence Forces with missiles capable of destroying Russian landing ships in the Black Sea off Odessa.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The UK is working closely with Allies to continue to provide more lethal and non-lethal defensive equipment to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Defence has not received a request from Ukraine for missiles capable of destroying Russian landing ships. All requests are carefully considered and based on Ukraine's needs.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Ministry of Defence, in any of its official (1) paperwork, (2) guidance, (3) instructions, (4) manuals, or (5) other documents, (a) has replaced, or (b) intends to replace, the word “mother” with the phrase “parent who has given birth”.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Ministry of Defence has not mandated the use of such language and there are no current plans to replace the word 'mother' with the phrase 'parent who has given birth' in Departmental paperwork, guidance, instructions, manuals or other documents.